Kenya’s crucial Group ‘F’ 2026 World Cup qualifier against Gabon on March 24 will be played at the Nyayo National Stadium as part of a test drive ahead of the Caf Africa Nations Championship tournament in August.
This was confirmed on Sunday at the end of a two-day inspection tour by a high-level Confederation of African Football (Caf) delegation led by Samson Adamu, the Confederation’s Director of Tournaments and Events.
Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed – who is also the Vice Chairman of Kenya’s Local Organising Committee for the 2025 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournaments – also confirmed that discussions are underway to have more test matches at the Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which will host the Chan tournament from August 2 to 30 and also the 2027 Afcon matches.
Kenya’s Harambee Stars currently lie fourth in Group ‘F’ of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers with five points from four matches, behind Cote d’Ivoire (10 points), Gabon (nine) and Burundi (seven).
The other teams in the group are Gambia (three points) and Seychelles (no point).
Group winners of the nine groups of six teams each qualify directly for the 2026 Fifa World Cup finals in USA, Mexico and Canada with the four best group runners’ up engaging in playoffs with other confederations to pick further teams that qualify.
Harambee Stars were forced to play their home matches against Burundi and Cote d’Ivoire in Malawi as both Nyayo and Kasarani venues were not ready to host international fixtures.
News that the Nyayo National Stadium will host the Gabon fixture is music to the ears of Kenya’s action-starved football fans who also endured the agony of seeing Harambee Stars also play their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification fixtures in Kampala (Uganda) and Polokwane (South Africa).
“We have made good progress in our preparations with Kasarani making steps in the right direction and Nyayo also maintaining good momentum,” Nicholas Musonye, Chairman of Kenya’s Chan/Afcon Local Organising Committee said on Sunday at the end of the latest Caf inspection tour.
Adamu, who led a similar inspection visit of Nairobi last month, said he was impressed with the progress made so far, thanking the Kenyan organisers for both the hospitality accorded to the Caf delegations and for focusing on beating the various deadlines.
“I’d like to thank Kenya for the commitment to make sure the tournament is a success. A lot of people were excited about the Chan draw organized in Nairobi.
“Congratulations to Kenya because there is great progress since January which means that work has not stopped even after the tournament was postponed (from February to August),” Adamu told Kenya’s LOC members in a debrief after the weekend inspection tour.
The Caf delegation visited the Nyayo and Kasarani competition venues as well as training venues at Kasarani Annex, Ulinzi Sports Complex and Police Sacco Stadium where they were impressed with the progress made.
At Kasarani, the delegation witnessed the arrival of the remaining material for the stadium’s canopy, floodlights and electronic scoreboards.
At the Nyayo National Stadium, one of the four brand new floodlights has already been installed with work progressing well with the other three.
The playing surface, changing rooms and media tribune are ready and will be tested during the Gabon match.
Adamu also announced that Caf will rope in members of Kenya’s Chan/ Afcon Local Organising Committee into Caf’s various competitions, including the Under-17 and Under-20 Cup of Nations competitions in Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire, respectively, and also various inter-club competitions, in order for them to gain exposure and experience.
“We thank Caf for this gesture. It is important for Kenya’s technical and management officials to gain high level organisational skills and keep a legacy for Kenya even after the Chan and Afcon tournaments in all aspects of organisation,” Myke Rabar, the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya’s Chan/ Afcon Local Organising Committee, said.
Rabar added that the full tournament operations will be rolled out on March 1 with the media, outdoor advertising and promotional campaign kicking off on April 1.
Kenya has been drawn in Group ‘A’ alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia and Angola in the Chan tournament.
Adamu and the Caf delegation – that includes Stephanie Tokotra (Infrastructure Consultant) and Andrew Culbert (Pitch Consultant) – depart Nairobi on Monday for inspection visits to Uganda on Tuesday and Wednesday before moving to Tanzania and Zanzibar on Thursday and Friday.
In Uganda, they will inspect the Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, and training venues for the Chan tournament at the Kampala International School, Kadiba Training Ground and Mutesa II Stadium.
In Zanzibar, they will assess the Amaan Stadium competition venue and Amaan Annex Training Grounds while in Tanzania, the Caf team will inspect the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium competition venue and training grounds at the Gymkhana Club, Law School and Maj. Gen. Isamuhyo Stadium.
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