CECAFA faults Kenya for pulling out of CECAFA pre-CHAN Tournament

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has come out to fault Kenya national team Harambee Stars for their decision to skip the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament at the eleventh hour.

Harambee Stars was among the four nations set to battle it out in the tournament that was meant to serve as part of preparations for the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) tournament that they will co-host alongside Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2 to 30th.

However, despite arriving in Arusha, Tanzania, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced the withdrawal of the team citing unsuitable conditions for the team’s participation and overall preparations. In a statement, CECAFA expressed deep frustration, terming Kenya’s abrupt exit as disappointing and unfair.

“The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) deeply regrets the decision of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to withdraw the Harambee Stars from the CECAFA Four Nations Tournament. Unfortunately, the decision came on July 21, when all reasonable concerns raised by FKF had been addressed earlier by CECAFA a few hours before kickoff,” read part of the statement.

“These actions were taken in good faith and with urgency to ensure the Kenyan team would participate.

“CECAFA therefore finds the withdrawal of Kenya to be unfair, especially after extensive efforts were made to meet the Federation’s requests. The sudden nature of the withdrawal compromises the spirit of regional cooperation and affects the integrity of a preparatory tournament designed with the collective interest of CHAN-bound teams in mind.”

Despite Harambee Stars withdrawal, the tournament continued with Tanzania edging out Uganda 1-0 in the first match at the Black Rhino Academy Stadium in Karatu, Arusha region, on Tuesday.