Kenya’s chances of hosting two crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifiers have been thrown into deep uncertainty following an announcement by the Ministry of Sports that the presumed venue – Nyayo National Stadium – will be closed as from 22 April for renovation.Harambee Stars in their bid to make the global football tournament for the first time in history, had been earmarked to play Burundi (3 June) and Burundi (10 June) in front of their home fans, but have now been left in the mercy of a CAF/FIFA decision amid lack of another international venue in the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_8038566##The other available stadium – Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani – is already under construction in readiness for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya won the bid and remains hopeful to host.“The Government of Kenya, through our Ministry and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), in consultation with CAF and FIFA regarding the venue for Harambee Stars’ next World Cup qualifier games,” read a Tuesday press release from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.Harambee Stars will NOT play the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June in Kenya because there’s no CAF/FIFA approved stadium at the moment, just like 17 other countries in Africa. Matches against Burundi 🇧🇮 and Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 will be taken to another country. Nyayo and… pic.twitter.com/I1kxLF9Ypj— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) April 16, 2024 The unprecedented closure of Nyayo Stadium, which will host Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic and the Mashemeji Derby on Sunday, follows the new development that the ground “had been designated as Kenya’s official CHAN host venue after consultation with the Confederation of African football.”The government, through Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, had February this year assured CAF that Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County – now closed and under renovation – would be ready by June to be the official host of the 2024 African Nations Championships and that no longer seems to be the plan.Bukhungu Stadium to be ready in time for CHAN 2024The games, which will be co-hosted by Uganda and Tanzania, are tentatively set for September 2024 but there remains doubt over them happening with no qualifiers played yet.
