Nyayo, Kasarani stadiums fail to meet CAF requirements in spite of millions spent on renovations

Newly refurbished Nyayo National Stadium has only partially met the stadium requirements set by Confederation of African Football (CAF) while the Kasarani Stadium failed totally to meet inspection requirements. The highest prized sporting arena on Kenyan soil can therefore, not host the upcoming 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

In letter seen by Mozzart Sport from CAF, Kenya have been handed reprieve after Nyayo Stadium was partially cleared for the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup qualifier against Rwanda slated for Monday 15 November but banned from hosting future CAF matches until the necessary recommendations were conducted.

The decision leaves Kenya without an approved stadium for international matches with Gor Mahia and Tusker's future continental matches should they progress to the Group Stages of the CAF Confederation Cup in limbo.

Should the recommendations no be complete by the time of the matches, the two clubs night be forced to play their matches out of the country just like Gor did when playing away against Sudanese side Al Ahly Merowe in Egypt.

After the game against Rwanda, Nyayo Stadium will be banned from hosting CAF matches after it was only granted temporary approval.

"Reference to the inspection visit conducted by CAF in the Nyayo National Stadium as part of the stadiums assessment homologation for the FIFA World Cup Qatar - African qualifiers, while we commend the effort made to improve the stadium in the past period, we regret to inform you that the stadium still does not fully meet the set CAF Stadium minimum requirements," read the CAF letter in part.

Kasarani will however be banned for the up coming World Cup qualifiers after it failed to meet the CAF stadium threshold until renovations are done to include the recommendations presented by CAF.

"Based on the inspection report, we regret to inform you that the stadium did not meet the set minimum CAF Stadium requirements and consequently will not be approved for the qualify matches of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matchday 5&6," read the part of the letter.

CAF urged the country to complete renovations for the two stadia and to confirm the purchase of all required stadium equipment in order for the continent's football governing body to permanently approve the stadia for future international matches with requests for updates on the stadia report made available.

During the CECAFA region Women's Champions League qualifiers clash pitting Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Lady Doves at the Nyayo Stadium, the two teams were forced to play their penalty shoot outs with little light after the floodlights failed to function.