Only one Kenyan stadium receives approval to host continental matches in latest CAF list
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 11.08.25. | 19:41
According to CAF Stadium Regulations (2022), stadia are categorised into four sections, 1-4 in ascending order based on different types of competitions
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the latest list of approved stadia for category 2 competitions, including interclub championships, with only one Kenyan stadium receiving the nod.
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Shockingly, in the list published on Sunday, 10 August by CAF, only Nyayo National Stadium has received the green light, despite Kasarani currently hosting a higher pedigree of matches.
The list was released to announce the stadia approved to cover the men’s U17/U20/U23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers and the preliminary stages of both the men’s CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
According to CAF Stadium Regulations (2022), stadia are categorised into four sections, 1-4 in ascending order based on different types of competitions.
Category one stadia are those approved to cover Women's Youth FIFA competitions and Women's Champions League qualifiers.
Apart from the competitions named by CAF on Sunday, category 2 also covers men’s U17/ U20/ U23 AFCON final tournaments and Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers.
Category 3 stadia are those approved to host the group stage and quarter finals of both the men's Champions League and Confederation Cup and the men's AFCON/ FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Additionally, this category is also approved to host the men’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, WAFCON- final tournament and the Women's Champions League- final stage.
The fourth and highest category is 4, which includes stadia approved to host the men's CHAN final tournament, like the one currently ongoing in Kenya and the CAF Super Cup.
The men’s AFCON- final tournament, men's CAF Champions League/ Confederation Cup - semi finals/ final and any other top-tier competitions as defined by CAF.
It is therefore shocking that the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is currently hosting category 4 matches and is even earmarked to host the 2024 CHAN final match, but is not even category 2-approved.
Additionally, the floodlights at Nyayo have not received approval by CAF yet, as late as Sunday, 10 August, they were in use during the 2024 CHAN clash between Angola and Zambia.
In total, CAF has approved 110 stadiums across the continent for category 2 competitions, with South Africa (13) having the highest number.
Morocco follows closely with 10 approved stadiums, as Algeria, with nine close to the top three African Nations with the highest number of Category 2-approved stadiums.
Of the 55 CAF member associations, 10 do not have a single approved stadium after none of their facilities met the required standards.
With only Nyayo receiving the nod, Kenya's representatives in the interclub competitions, Kenya Police FC and Nairobi United, will be restricted to just one choice for home matches.
Nonetheless, Kenya has embarked on an ambitious plan to improve the sporting infrastructure in the country as a way of developing talents.
For hosting CHAN, Kenya, which initially lacked a CAF approved stadium, upgraded both Kasarani and Nyayo to CAF’s satisfaction and certified them for Category 4 competitions.
For the two stadia, the government spent about Ksh8 billion to upgrade them to CAF standards: Ksh6.7 billion for Kasarani, which was done in two phases, and Ksh1.2 billion for Nyayo.
Additionally, the government also upgraded other stadiums that were used as training grounds in the biennial tournament.
They include Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Police Sacco Stadium in South C, Utalii Grounds, as well as Kasarani Annex Upper and Lower.
With Kenya also set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the government is constructing a brand new Talanta Sports City Stadium.
Upon completion, the flagship project is expected to be the most modern stadium in East and Central Africa, with inbuilt amenities including a VAR room, goal line technology, state of the art media and broadcasting centers, as well as advanced changing rooms.
The stadium, which will not have an athletic track, bringing fans closer to the pitch, is expected to be complete by 31 December.
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