There is intensifying pressure on Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to deliver a successful 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) for both on-pitch and off-pitch reasons. Since earning the rights to host the tournament in September last year, there have been concerns on whether the three nations are ready to organize a tournament of such magnitude.
With a few days to go, many things especially the sporting infrastructure is not fully ready but CAF has maintained its stance of hosting the Championship in the selected countries. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe had to physically visit stadiums and training facilities in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania last month to ascertain the readiness and what can be patched up before the games start. Additionally, CAF has placed delegations in each of the three countries consisting of various departments to keep monitoring the progress, assess and identify areas of improvement across the different competition’s functional areas as per CAF Regulations.
Among the three hosts, Kenya have seemed to lag behind. Both Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani Stadium are undergoing renovation but are way behind schedule. For a country that has a history of failing to host two continental football tournaments (CHAN 2018 and AFCON 1996), the state in which they find themselves is not surprising.
Tanzania and Uganda are equally in the same boat. Whereas Mandela National Stadium and Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium are nearly okay for the competition, the training grounds have been an issue. In Uganda’s case, the Kyambogo University training ground that had earlier been earmarked has since stalled due to lack of funding from Government and has been dropped. There is progress with Kadiba Training Facility but not yet in perfect shape and works on Muteesa II Stadium Wankulukuku just started last week.
What you cannot dispute though is the commitment to avail state-of-the-art stadia for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. At least all the three nations are either renovating the existing ones or setting up new ones.
Kenya is improving both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium with Talanta Stadium the new project under construction. Tanzania will make sure Benjamin Mkapa and Amaan Stadiums are improved to the required standards and already constructing a new stadium in Arusha. For Uganda, Mandela National Stadium will undergo a second-phase of renovation after CHAN while works at new projects (Hoima and Akii-Bua Stadium) are ongoing.
Much of the talk about CHAN has been about preparations or the lack of it and this is what the public has been treated to. There is hardly any excitement in the public about the East Africa region hosting such a tournament. In fact, many peole are unbothered.
As Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania prepare to host AFCON 2027, the CHAN tournament can only serve as the best precursor amidst the challenges. It will be upon the three countries to pick lessons and hopefully improve where need be.
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