Caf Bans Both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums from Hosting International Matches

Caf Bans Both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums from Hosting International Matches

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:52 PM
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  • Both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium failed to meet standard CAF requirements to host international matches
  • The latest ban now means Kenya does not have an approved stadium for international matches
  • If both stadiums do not meet requirements in coming weeks, Gor Mahia and Tusker FC will have to play their continental home games away from the country
  • Nyayo Stadium was partially cleared to allow Kenya to host Rwanda in her World Cup qualifier

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has banned Kenya’s two main stadiums, Kasarani and Nyayo, from hosting international matches.

Caf Bans Both Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums
Nyayo and Kasarani Stadiums will have to improve their facilities to meet standard CAF requirements in order to be allowed to host international matches. Photo: GOAL.
Source: UGC

The new directive means Kenya will have to host matches abroad, as the two stadiums failed to meet inspection requirements.

Both stadiums were subjected to an intense inspection exercise ahead of the World Cup qualifiers but failed to set the required standards.

Nyayo Stadium, which has undergone millions-worth of upgrades in recent months, was handed temporary reprieve as allowed the staging of two games in the stadium. This provision will expire after Harambee Stars host Rwanda in their last match of the qualifiers on Monday, November 15.

“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," a statement from CAF read.

TUKO.co.ke has since established that some areas of the Kasarani failed to meet some basic criteria like adequate floodlights for night games, substandard referee dressing rooms and a below-par facility committed to first aid.

Gor, Tusker set to be affected by latest ban

This latest setback will not adversely affect Harambee Stars as the national side’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were all but ended by Mali.

But it will certainly affect the likes of Gor Mahia and Tusker FC, both of whom are involved in continental competitions.

Should they progress to the Group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup, Gor Mahia might have to play their home matches away from the country as they did when playing away against Sudanese side Al Ahly Merowe in Egypt.

Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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