CHAN fever takes over city as history comes knocking
By Vincent Voiyoh, August 1, 2025The excitement is building up, closer to D-day. The long wait for a continental tournament is set to end in the next 24 hours as the African Nations Championships (CHAN) comes home.
It is no longer a matter of if: This is happening before our eyes – something that the region has been craving for after feeling left out or disappointing past failures that have dented the previous attempts to host the rest of Africa for a championship of such magnitude.
Since being named as one of the co-hosts for the 2024 CHAN tournament, Kenya has been on the move to make amends on her name regarding its prowess as a premier sporting destination. The process of getting ready for the big show had been put under scrutiny especially on the pace of delivering the needful – sporting infrastructure.
All said and done, this week has witnessed key activities that have quashed the non-believers. The oomph of the tournament is in the air, almost taking the city to a standstill.
The Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya has termed this tourney as ‘special’, calling on all Kenyans to embrace it with maximum enthusiasm since it serves as a precursor to the 2027 African Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
“This is a special occasion for all Kenyans and all the citizens should treasure it. It is a historic moment even for our team Harambee Stars and therefore we must rally behind them fully for their success,” Mvurya told People Sport, emphasising that when Harambee Stars plays, it’s Kenya in the battlefield and when they win it is a win for all Kenyans.
“This CHAN is a major test for us as we gear up for AFCON 2027,” he added.
Special desk
At the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, it was all systems go, creating an atmosphere that has not been witnessed before in the country save for those who were there to witness the 1987 All Africa Games in Nairobi.
Already one of the busiest airports on the continent, JKIA is a beehive of activities ready to receive Kenya’s guests for the football extravaganza that is kicking off on Saturday in Dar e Salam, Tanzania. There is a special desk for visitors coming for the tournament.
CS Mvurya underscored that Kenya’s main entry point has a special role to play in portraying a good image of the country even before the set foot in the city or at the stadium.
“We have gone through the protocols of arrival for the delegates of this CHAN tournament. We have looked at the immigration, the port health, customs, the waiting tent and for sure we are satisfied with all the arrangements in place. All the information required for the visitors at arrival and departure are all in place and logistics are properly organised in regards to CHAN readiness. We have language translators and interpreters just to ease movement of our guests,” Mvurya stated.
At Nyayo and Kasarani Stadium, which are the matchday venues for Group A games they are glittering after a magical touch of branding relating to the tournament. It is colourful and pleasing to the eyes.
The VAR boxes have particularly mesmerised football lovers in the country, getting installed to be used on Kenyan soil for the first time.
High tech-television broadcast equipment is in town ready to roll for the beaming of the games to the rest of the world.
From yesterday, local and international media were being handed accreditation at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in readiness for the showdown, taking the tournament’s preparations to a notch higher.
“Many of the things that relate to the tournament are done and this tournament is going to happen as planned because the preparations are on schedule,” Mvurya added.