With East Africa’s eyes on us, Kenya proudly joins Tanzania and Uganda to host the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship. From August 2–30, 2025 the continent’s best home-based players descend on our region, and we’re ready to roar. As Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy notes, this is historic – co-hosted by three East African nations – a chance for Pamoja unity and to “show Africa and the world that we are well structured… and have the capabilities”. For Kenya it’s a moment of pride and a statement: we’re ready to host world-class football. The stage is set, the stadiums are ready, and our Harambee Stars are primed to shine in front of raucous home support.
Above: Harambee Stars training at Kasarani – ready to welcome home fans as CHAN 2025 kicks off.
Stadiums and Security – Kenya Is Ready
Kenya’s venues have been transformed for CHAN 2025. Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani) and Nyayo Stadium now carry CAF certification and top-tier upgrades. At Kasarani, a new canopy will shelter fans from rain or sun. VIP and VVIP sections now feature cushioned, fold-down seats with cup-holders and extra legroom. The playing surface has been relaid with world-class artificial turf and a new drainage system, meeting all international standards. Even the players’ changing rooms have been revamped: cleaner, more spacious, and better-equipped than ever. Two giant LED screens and a new sound system mean every fan enjoys replays and music in crystal clarity. All these upgrades put Kasarani among Africa’s elite stadiums ahead of CHAN and beyond – just in time as Kenya also gears up for AFCON 2027.
Fifty Administration Police officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) are currently undergoing a stadium safety and security capacity-building program at the RDU headquarters in Embakasi
Kenyan authorities have also rolled out stringent match-day plans. Our stadiums are fully fitted with CCTV, strict access controls and trained stewards and police. In short: a “smart, safe, fan-first” protocol is in place. This means: no ticket scalping or chaos at the gates – just smooth entry and big-time excitement. The government promises tight security for everyone, locals and visitors alike. As Pulse Sports reported, “CCTV, Venue Operating Centres (VOCs), strict access controls and CAF-trained police officers” are all part of the setup. In other words, Nairobi is locked down tight so fans can let loose inside.
Online tickets only: All match tickets must be bought on chan.mookh.com via M-PESA or card. Regular seats are just Ksh200 (VIP Ksh500, VVIP Ksh1,000) BUY TICKETS.
Digital ticketing: No paper or printouts – you’ll receive an SMS or email e-ticket to display on your phone. Don’t get scammed by fake printouts.
4-layer screening: At each stadium (Kasarani and Nyayo) expect a quick bag-and-body check, then an instant scan of your digital ticket, followed by the usual metal-detector search and guided seating. It’s efficient and safe – no pushing, no queues, just world-class organization.
These match-day rules are simple: buy online, show your SMS ticket, walk in safely and cheer. Kenya’s CHAN 2025 will be a fan’s dream: hi-tech, secure, and fully inclusive. “No long queues, no lost tickets, no counterfeits,” the organizers promise. Kasarani is ready – now it just needs you, the Kenyan fan, to bring the roar.
Group A – Harambee Stars at Home
Kenya drew a daunting Group A, but home turf gives us a fighting chance. Harambee Stars face Morocco, DR Congo, Angola and Zambia – all former champions or powerhouse nations. All Kenya’s group games are at Kasarani. The schedule is packed (all local times):
Aug 3 (Sun): Kenya vs DR Congo at Kasarani.
Aug 7 (Thu): Angola vs Kenya at Kasarani.
Aug 10 (Sun): Kenya vs Morocco at Kasarani.
Aug 17 (Sat): Zambia vs Kenya at Kasarani.
(Other Group A games – Morocco vs Angola, DR Congo vs Zambia, etc. – happen in Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium.) By hosting every match in Nairobi, the Stars have a huge home advantage: vibrant support, familiar pitch and no travel fatigue.
With an ultra-competitive group, every goal will count. The final and 3rd-place match are also on our continent: semi-finals and third place in Kampala, and the grand final back at Kasarani on Aug 30. In short, we have the stadiums, the dates, and – with fans like you – the 12th man to make us dangerous in Kasarani.
McCarthy’s Charge – “Fearless and Hungry”
Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy has been blunt: Kenya aims for the title. The former Liverpool striker has instilled confidence in the squad. When asked about the tough Group A, McCarthy laughed and said “to win anything you’ve got to beat the best” – and insisted “this is our time”. He’s assembled a mix of hungry local stars and seasoned pros, and vowed the team will be “a team fearful of no one”.
Benni praises his players’ mentality: “They have the work ethic and talent to get the job done,” he says, having watched them shine in the local league. Stars like Masoud Juma (our most experienced striker) and rising winger Ryan Ogam (15 league goals last season) are ready to fire us forward. The coach even joked about the draw: “Whoever drew these balls… (laughs) … we have a great opportunity with two-time champions DRC and Morocco… This is our time and the squad… is hungry and wants success”.
Benni also emphasizes support from above: he’s “truly grateful” to the FKF and government for backing the team. Our leaders have rallied behind CHAN – even President William Ruto stopped by a Stars training at Kasarani to urge on the boys. Sports CS Salim Mvurya echoed this hope, saying CHAN is “not just about pride, it’s about investing in our players and giving them a reason to dream big.”. In other words: everyone is aligned, pushing Harambee Stars to dream in championship terms.
Off the pitch, McCarthy is a realist – he warns that our group is no stroll in the park. But on the pitch, he’s all guns blazing. He already calls on fans to be the “12th man”: “we want to have a full stadium every time… because we need that 12th man push,” he said. He points to the rabid passion we showed against Gabon and demands “that same passion at Kasarani on August 3”. With this coach at the helm, the message is clear: Rise up, join the charge, and let nothing scare us off.
Fans, Flags – Twende Kazi!
Kenyans – sasa ndo time! Bring your football passion and winning spirit to Kasarani. The Stars are counting on you. As McCarthy put it, “Fans have a huge role to play…we want to have a full stadium every time we play…we need that 12th man push… we want to witness that same passion at Kasarani on August 3”. No sitting on the couch – tokea and fill those stands!
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE SINCE THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS SALE ON MATCHDAY
Forward Ryan Ogam, our teenage goal-poacher, has set the tone: “We cannot afford to disappoint our home crowd… I want to help the team go all the way to the final – that is my first goal”. Hear that? A Star promising to score every game – but only if you, the fans, show up. Imagine 45,000 fans in Kasarani on game day: flags waving, vuvuzelas blaring (well, CAF banned some horns for safety, but you get the vibe), and an atmosphere like a World Cup.
Twende kazi, watu wangu wa Nairobi! Don’t miss the this. Every Kenyan should be proud that CHAN 2025 is here, and the best way to show it is by turning up in large numbers. Call your smochaa vendor, your kin, the balozi of your street – everyone must join. Let’s make Kasarani our fortress and send a message: “Harambee Stars si ndo wale wasee!” We are not to be taken lightly!.
Beyond Football
This tournament is bigger than 90 minutes. It’s East Africa’s time to shine together. Every banner that reads “Pamoja” will echo our unity. Kenyans, Tanzanians and Ugandans will share in the pride of hosting. We might watch together when Benni’s squad clash either with Tanzania or Uganda in the knockouts – because we’re all in this East African football revolution.
Kasarani will be a symbol of new ambition. As The Star newspaper put it, the overhaul of Kasarani (new roof, seats, turf, etc.) is part of a broader plan to make Kenya “a serious player on the African sports stage”. Let’s honor that investment by leaving a legacy of loud cheers and cheering heroes. Pack Kasarani and show that Kenya’s football culture is alive and unshakeable.
Twende mbele Harambee Stars! #Pamoja