After CHAN heartache, Kenya set to host CECAFA Challenge Cup

The Executive Committee of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) has endorsed Kenya to host the 2017 Challenge Cup as the competition nears return after a two-year absence.

In its exco meeting held in Khartoum, the members expressed solidarity with Kenya after it was stripped off hosting rights for CHAN and vowed to bring the regional tournament to the country from late November to early December.

In a communique from the Sudanese capital ahead of Friday’s Extraordinary General Assembly, CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said the committee also endorsed Burundi to host the Under 17 and Rwanda Women championship both in November and early December.

The meeting also approved the agenda for the Extraordinary meeting set for Friday that will drastically overhaul the current CECAFA statutes and enact a new document to align CECAFA to CAF and FIFA.

The meeting which was attended by COSAFA Chairman Philip Chiyangwa also endorsed an MOU entered into by CECAFA, COSAFA and UNAF and a joint meeting of the three zonal Unions will be held before the end of the year.

CECAFA president Mutasim Gafar said Kenya will be supported to host the Challenge Cup but because of the current political situation in Kenya, another country will be proposed as a standby.

Gafar said CECAFA Programmes are back on track and the region will organise at least five competitions next year.

Kagame Cup will be rebranded next year and there is a proposal to expand and make it bigger.

Musonye said CECAFA will announce their sponsor for Kagame Cup and Challenge cup next month.

Kenya lost its CHAN hosting rights following a verdict by the CAF exco that the country was unprepared to host the 16-team continental competition.