Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania could host the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup this May or June even as the highly anticipated 2024 CHAN prepares to commence in August.
Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are considering reinstating the scrapped CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in May or June as a preparatory event ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to take place in August.
The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, which has not been held since its last edition in Ethiopia in 2019, could also provide East African teams with a platform to build squad cohesion ahead of CHAN 2024.
Earlier this year, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar participated in the Mapinduzi Cup in Pemba Islands, with interim Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi using the tournament to mould a competitive squad for CHAN.
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This move comes as the trio, who are co-hosting CHAN, also aim at fine-tune logistics and infrastructure ahead of the continental showpiece.
The regional tournament was originally scheduled for February but was postponed following recommendations from CAF’s technical and infrastructure experts.
These officials have been closely monitoring preparations in the three nations and advised that additional time was required to ensure stadiums, training grounds, and other facilities meet the necessary standards. Consequently, CHAN 2024 will now commence on 2nd August and conclude on 30th August.
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In light of these adjustments, the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup has been identified as an opportunity to test organisational readiness while giving regional teams valuable competitive action.
Kenya’s Local Organising Committee chair, Nicholas Musonye, revealed that the proposal was tabled during the CECAFA Congress in Juba, where it was agreed that the secretariat would assess its feasibility.
“During the CECAFA Congress in Juba last week, the three Local Organising Committees for CHAN 2024 met on the sidelines and suggested hosting the CECAFA Challenge Cup in May or June,” Musonye told Nation Sport.
CECAFA General Secretary Auka Gecheo echoed these sentiments, confirming that while no formal decision was reached, the secretariat had been given two weeks to evaluate the logistics and present a report.
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“It was a proposal put on the table, but no resolution was made. It was agreed that CECAFA’s secretariat would examine the modalities and provide feedback in two weeks,” Gecheo stated.
If the tournament goes ahead, Kenya will be aiming to reclaim the title they last won in 2017, when they hosted the event.
Hosting the CECAFA Challenge Cup would offer another chance for teams to fine-tune their strategies before the continental competition kicks off in August.