CAF asked Kenya to bid for CHAN 2025, but Nick Mwendwa declined

Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa. (FKF Media)

FOOTBALL CAF asked Kenya to bid for CHAN 2025, but Nick Mwendwa declined

Peter Tabu • 15:25 - 23.05.2023

Mwendwa revealed the reason for turning down hosting CHAN was the current AFCON 2027 bid on the table.

Federation of Kenya Football President Nick Mwendwa has disclosed that Kenya turned down a CAF request to bid for hosting rights of the CHAN 2025.

While appearing on Sports On, NTV Kenya's Monday night sports show,

Mwendwa revealed the reason for turning down hosting CHAN was the current AFCON 2027 bid on the table.

"I can confirm that CAF, as of yesterday (Sunday), asked if we can put in a bid to host CHAN 2025, but I turned it down; I looked at what is currently at hand, which is the joint AFCON bid," Mwendwa stated.

"When you look at it critically, 2025 is too soon for us, we might have everything ready, but maybe after AFCON, if we win the bid or even if we fail, we won't be in the same position; that's for sure," he added.

Kenya joined Uganda and Tanzania to make a joint bid for the AFCON 2027 tournament dubbed EAC PAMOJA AFCON 2027.

In the bid, each country is, among other requirements, expected to have available two state-of-the-art stadiums for the competition.

Kenya has presented three stadiums in Nyayo, Kasarani and the Kipchoge Kieno stadium. All three are set to undergo renovations to meet CAF standards for the tournament.

Tanzania has offered the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and CCM Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza, while Uganda is expected to offer only the Mandela National Stadium; however, it's still undergoing renovations.

Kenya was awarded hosting rights for the 2018 CHAN, but it was stripped of the rights, with CAF stating the decision was made in light of accumulated delays from reports of various inspection missions conducted in the country. As a result, Morocco went on to host the showpiece.

Tags: