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Sports Kenya, the body the manages stadiums in the country, is remaining confident that Harambee Stars will not be forced to host Burundi and Ivory Coast out of the country in June.
Sports Kenya is confident that Nyayo Stadium will get the approval from CAF to host Harambee Stars’ 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Burundi in June.
Kenya currently still do not have a certified venue for high level CAF matches with Kasarani Stadium closed for renovation and Nyayo still not cleared.
That has led to reports that Harambee Stars might play their home matches away, with Malawi said to be the country that has been identified to host them, if they do not get clearance on time.
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However, Sports Kenya says talks are ongoing between the government and CAF to ensure Nyayo Stadium gets the greenlight so that the country does not suffer the embarrassment of playing home matches way.
“The qualifiers will most likely be played at Nyayo. It is being pushed, there are a lot of efforts to ensure that happens but it is not official yet,” the source, who requested anonymity, told Pulse Sports.
“From previous CAF inspections, there were a few shortcomings that were identified like the [lack of] floodlights, pitch levels and camera one position which we have to address.
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“There are some renovation work going on and another inspection is coming up very soon. We will get a clear indication from it. The category of World Cup qualifiers is the same required for AFCON qualifiers so if we get clearance, then the 2025 AFCON qualifiers will also be staged at Nyayo.”
It is not the first time Kenya is finding itself in such a position as Kakamega Homeboyz nearly played its CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round clash against Libya’s Al Hilal Benghazi in a neighbouring country before a late push by the government secured Nyayo Stadium to host the match.
Harambee Stars have two crucial World Cup qualifiers against Burundi on June 3 and African champions Ivory Coast seven days later which coach Engin Firat is counting on home support to push his side to victory.
Taking the match out of Kenya would deny the team the impact of the 12th man, hence the push to have them staged in the country.
The Ivorians lead Group F with six points from two matches, same as Gabon, while Kenya are third on three points, same as Burundi. The Gambia and Seychelles are pointless.
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