Kenya to host World Cup qualifier against Burundi in Malawi

According to a Football Kenya Federation official who spoke to Citizen Digital on condition of anonymity, this development follows inspections by CAF officials that were done twice last month, prompting the federation to seek alternative venues out of the country.

"The inspectors have done inspections twice in the last month and wrote a report that was shared with the government and CAF.

“We will write a formal statement as the match day nears."

Kenya is scheduled to host Burundi on June 2 and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Ivory Coast a week later, with all indications pointing to the possibility that the latter could be held in the southern African nation as well.

The unavailability of state-of-the-art sports facilities in the country have hampered prospects of national teams in international assignments for the longest time, with stakeholders calling out the government for its lack of goodwill towards sports development.

This development also comes in the wake of the confirmation that Kenya U-17 ladies team Junior Starlets will host Ethiopia at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, in a move that Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba says is necessitated by the closure of Nyayo, Kasarani and Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret for upgrading.

“The government is also investing heavily in the state-of-the-art Talanta Sports City alongside regional facilities countrywide.”

“There is nothing “unfortunate" about sports events being hosted at Ulinzi Sports Complex. The high stakes U17 Women's World Cup qualifier return match against Ethiopia will be hosted at the same venue.

“We are correcting a mess accumulated over many years. For long Kenya's sports facilities have been neglected and handled way too casually. Not anymore!

“Uganda started renovating Nelson Mandela Namboole Stadium in 2020. They have just reopened it this month, and reaping the benefits of long-term investment of 4 years. Rwanda started rebuilding Amahoro Stadium in 2019. The results are before our eyes, after5 years,” read a statement he posted on Facebook in response to a post on popular sports group Sports Kenya.