Stars risk lack of action until 2025
Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday issued a two-week ultimatum to suspended member associations, Kenya and Zimbabwe to put their house in order so that they can be drawn in Afcon 2023 qualifiers or miss continental action indefinitely.
This latest announcement deepens Harambee Stars woes since world football governing body (Fifa) already ratified its suspension of Kenya over government’s interference in football matters.
In essence, Stars have been ruled out of the running for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) pencilled for Ivory Coast as well as the African Nations Championships (CHAN) to be held in Algeria, both scheduled for next year.
As for now, there is no likelihood that Sports CS Amina Mohamed will yield to Fifa’s demands to reinstate Football Kenya Federation (FKF) which she disbanded on November 11, 2021, over financial embezzlement claims.
Readmit Kenya
Fifa also wants the Caretaker Committee formed by the government suspended if it has to readmit Kenya in international football.
Besides Harambee Stars, also affected by the embargo is the team which will win the FKF Premier League as it can neither play in the Africa Champions League nor the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) inter-clubs championships.
However, Amina, in a strongly worded statement, said the decision by the Kenyan Government to disband FKF fully adhered to the Laws of Kenya.
“The decision was taken after it became crystal clear that how FKF was managing Kenya’s football growth and development was unsustainable and untenable,” Amina said. “The lack of accountability for monies entrusted to it by the government and people of Kenya was raised with FKF on many occasions to no avail. We tried on many occasions to bring the matter which had festered for long to the attention of FIFA with no success.”
With Kenya’s issue virtually sealed, Ivory Coast will be hosting the next edition of the tournament next year which has been scheduled to take place in the summer of 2023.
Already, CAF has announced the AFCON draw will be held on April 19, a week from today, with some new modalities.
The qualifying series will start in June with the final set of matches to be played later in March 2023.
