Victor Wanyama hails Kenya’s CHAN journey, calls for bigger investment in football
By Kiprono Keileb, August 25, 2025Kenya’s football legend Victor Wanyama has reflected on Kenya’s participation in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), praising the progress made in the tournament while urging sustained investment in the country’s sports ecosystem.
Speaking in a television interview on Monday, August 25, 2025., Wanyama highlighted the lessons and opportunities for Kenyan football despite the national team’s exit.
Wanyama expressed pride in the performance of the Kenyan squad, emphasising that the players showcased the country’s raw talent and potential.
“The trophy looks good. I wish we could have been still participating in the tournament, but I am proud of what our boys achieved,” he said.
He stressed that representing the country remains one of the highest honours for any footballer.
“Every young footballer dreams of representing his country at the highest level; these are the moments that every footballer works hard for,” he added
A call for investment in sports
The former captain of the national team urged stakeholders to leverage the momentum from CHAN 2024 to invest in grassroots and professional football
“There’s a lot of raw talent out there. Let it not stop at CHAN 2024; let’s invest more in our sports,” Wanyama said. He emphasised that nurturing talent requires consistent support, infrastructure, and opportunities for young players to thrive both domestically and internationally.
Wanyama also lauded the organisers for the seamless execution of the tournament, from ticketing to fan engagement.
“The 2024 CHAN has been a real success so far, from the organisation and ticketing to the fans. It has been truly good, and even bigger things will come when we host the 2027 AFCON,” he noted.
He added that the large turnout of fans signals a revival of national interest in football:
“The huge number of fans who turned up shows that as a country, we are back in football. It’s great to see the crowds in the stadium. Hopefully, this is just the beginning, and they will be doing the same for our league,” he added
Impact Beyond the Pitch
Wanyama highlighted the wider benefits of hosting the tournament, including upgraded sports facilities, inspiration for the younger generation, and tourism promotion.
“The impact of hosting this tournament is good. We’ve upgraded our facilities, the young generation watching this tournament is motivated, and the country also gets more visitors to explore Kenya,” he said.
While Kenya’s journey in CHAN 2024 may have ended, Wanyama’s reflections offer hope for the future. His call to invest in football and support emerging talent underscores the potential for Kenyan sports to grow into a globally competitive arena, with long-term benefits for players, fans, and the nation.