The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has criticized Kenya’s abrupt withdrawal from the ongoing CECAFA Pre-CHAN Tournament in Karatu, Tanzania, calling the move “unfair” and regrettable.
In a press release issued on Monday, July 21, 2025, CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gecheo confirmed that the tournament will continue with three teams—hosts Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal—despite Kenya’s exit.
“We regret Kenya’s decision to withdraw the team after arriving in Karatu, but the tournament will continue. We find the withdrawal of Kenya to be unfair, especially after extensive efforts were made to meet the Federation’s requests,” said Gecheo.
Kenya’s decision comes just days after naming a 25-man squad for the tournament under newly appointed head coach Benni McCarthy, who had stated the competition would be a critical part of preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Despite arriving in Karatu, Kenya opted to pull out following what sources suggest were logistical and technical disagreements—though the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has yet to release full details.
With Kenya out, CECAFA has restructured the tournament fixture list. The new match schedule is as follows:
July 22: Tanzania vs Uganda
July 25: Uganda vs Senegal
July 27: Tanzania vs Senegal
The tournament opener on Tuesday will go ahead as planned at Karatu Stadium, marking the start of what CECAFA calls a crucial preparatory competition ahead of CHAN 2024.
Despite the setback, CECAFA reaffirmed its commitment to regional football development and high standards in tournament organization.
“CECAFA remains committed to continuously improving the quality and organization of its competitions,” the statement read.
