The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that Kenya will host the final and closing ceremony of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, will be the stage for the final match of the tournament on Saturday, August 30.##NAJAVA_MECA_8985532##In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Soy United team leader Edwin Ayiro expressed excitement over CAF’s decision, calling it a golden opportunity for Kenya to showcase that it is not only the land of athletics, but also a growing football powerhouse.“Being granted the right to host the final is an affirmation that Kenya is also a footballing nation,” said Ayiro.“This is a huge moment for the Harambee Stars, a chance to write history by lifting a continental trophy on home soil.”Since the inception of CHAN, only one nation has managed to win the tournament as hosts, Morocco in 2018, during a tournament that ironically, Kenya was originally slated to host.FKF reveal Benni McCarthy’s termination clause of his Harambee Stars contractThat final saw Morocco thrash Nigeria 4–0 in Casablanca to claim their maiden title.Ayiro believes the Stars should draw motivation from that precedent and aim to emulate Morocco’s feat, particularly with the support of home fans and a refurbished national stadium.“There is no greater motivation than the dream of playing a final at Kasarani and lifting the trophy in front of your people,” he added.##NAJAVA_MECA_8985534##Beyond the pitch, Ayiro sees broader implications.He says hosting the final offers Kenya a chance to repair its international image, particularly after years of governance concerns and regional diplomatic tensions.He cited the 2023 edition in Algeria, where Morocco, then reigning champions, pulled out due to strained relations and a ban on direct flights between the two countries.“This gives Kenya a platform not just to prove itself as a football destination, but as a peaceful, credible regional leader,” Ayiro noted.“It shines a light on our infrastructure, organization, and growing influence in East Africa.”Harambee Starlets edge closer to CECAFA glory after dominant win over South SudanAyiro, whose club Soy United are on the verge of earning promotion to the National Super League (NSL), also called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to maximize the moment by strategically marketing the CHAN brand to attract both fans and tourists.“This is the perfect time for FKF to showcase Kenyan football to the world,” he said.“It’s also a chance to stimulate our tourism sector and bring people into our stadiums.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8985964##“To Coach Benni McCarthy, what a spectacle it would be if Kenya made it to the final. He’d become a fan darling overnight.”The 2024 CHAN tournament kicks off on 2 and runs until 30th of August.Kenya is placed in Group A alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia, all of whom will play their group-stage matches in Nairobi.
