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Kenya vs Gabon World Cup qualifier to test Nyayo stadium ahead of Chan
Samson Adam, CAF's Tournaments and Events Director (centre, hands in pocket) with members of Kenya's CHAN_AFCON LOC during an inspection visit at Kasarani on Saturday, February 22, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Harambee Stars were forced to play their home matches against Burundi and Cote d’Ivoire in Malawi as both Nyayo and MISC Kasarani were not approved 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).
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 for the venue ahead of the delayed 2024 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) tournament in August.
This was confirmed 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 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 (MISC), 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 to be co-hosted by the United States of America, 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 MISC Kasarani were not approved 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).
The washrooms at one of the revamped changing rooms at the Nyayo National Stadium on February 22, 2025
“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 MISC as well as training venues at Kasarani Annex, Ulinzi Sports Complex and Police Sacco Stadium where they were impressed with the progress made.
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.
The renovated players' tunnel at the Nyayo National Stadium on February 22, 2025.
Myke Rabar, the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya’s Chan/ Afcon Local Organising Committee, said full Chan’s 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.
The Caf delegation departed Nairobi on Monday for inspection visits to Uganda on Tuesday and Wednesday before moving to Tanzania and Zanzibar on Thursday and Friday.