Kenya Declines To Replace Ghana As Africa Women Cup Of Nations Hosts Citing Lack Of Facilities

Kenya has dropped their interest in replacing Ghana as the new hosts of the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON).

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had expressed willingness to take up the slot in case Ghana was deemed unready but, they have since written to the Africa’s football body saying the country lacks facilities.

CAF confirmed Ghana’s fears on Saturday by stripping them of the hosting rights three months to the tournament’s kickoff in November for unpreparedness.

To successfully stage the eight-team championship, a country needs two standard stadiums.

At the moment, Kenya can only bank on the newly refurbished Kasarani Stadium for such an assignment with works on Nyayo Stadium taking ages to complete.

Other stadiums in the country like Kisumu’s Moi Stadium, Kinoru Stadium, Gusii Stadium, Uwanja Wa Mbuzi – Mombasa are not up-to international standards.

“Unfortunately, we seem to have only the Kasarani Stadium ready to host the competition, and yet two stadiums are required.

“We informed CAF on Saturday of the development and they also replied,” FKF boss Nick Mwendwa told Kwese Sports.

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Despite the challenges, CAF president Ahmad is optimistic that they will secure new hosts in time from the competition which starts from 17 November to 1 December 2018.

The decision on who will take over from Ghana will be officially communicated next month in Cairo, Egypt during CAF’s AGM.

Last year CAF took away CHAN 2018 hosting rights from Kenya for lack of facilities with Morocco slotting in to save face.

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