Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed has spoken out on whether Kenya will be able to host the 2025 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup as the country focuses on preparing for two major events, the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2025 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
During a CAF inspection briefing at Talanta Plaza on Tuesday, Mohammed admitted that the ongoing renovations at Kenya’s main stadiums are creating uncertainty. Both the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi are undergoing major upgrades to meet international standards. These venues are expected to be key during CHAN and AFCON.
Given the tight timelines and construction schedules, the federation is now weighing two main options. One possibility is to hold the CECAFA tournament towards the end of June, when some stadiums might be temporarily available. The second option is to move the tournament outside Kenya or even outside East Africa altogether to avoid delaying any infrastructure work.
Mohammed said that no final decision has been made and that talks are ongoing with officials from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) and other regional partners to find a solution that works for everyone involved.
The debate around hosting CECAFA comes after informal discussions were held during the CECAFA Congress in Juba, South Sudan, last month. According to Nicholas Musonye, who chairs the National Steering Committee for CHAN 2025 and AFCON 2027, the idea of rescheduling or co-hosting the event was floated on the sidelines of the meeting. May or June were mentioned as possible months for the tournament.
CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gecheo confirmed that the plan was presented officially, and Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi later told Kenya’s National Assembly Committee on Regional Integration that the event will be used as a full-dress rehearsal ahead of CHAN. A tentative date of June 1–21, 2025, has already been agreed upon by stakeholders.
If the proposal is accepted, this would mark a historic shift. For the first time in its 98-year history, the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup could be co-hosted or played outside its traditional East and Central African zone. The tournament, which began in 1926 as the Gossage Cup, is Africa’s oldest football competition.
The CECAFA Cup has not been played since 2019, when Uganda hosted the last edition.
By Yockshard Enyendi