2024 CHAN Qualifers: Firat drops Patrick Matasi as he unveils final Harambee Stars squad

Kenya’s national football team, the Harambee Stars, are gearing up for a pivotal two-legged clash against South Sudan in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) CECAFA qualifiers.

Head coach Engin Firat has announced his final squad for the encounter, as the team looks to assert its dominance, despite already securing automatic qualification for the 2025 CHAN tournament.

The 2025 CHAN competition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1-28, 2025, and while Kenya has guaranteed a spot in the tournament, the team is keen on making a strong statement in the qualifiers.

Key Matches Ahead

The Harambee Stars will first travel to face South Sudan on October 27, 2024, at Juba International Stadium, with kickoff set for 3 PM. The second leg will take place on November 3, 2024, at 4 PM at Mandela National Stadium in Uganda.

If Kenya emerges victorious over South Sudan, they will advance to the final phase of the qualifiers, where they will face the winner of the Djibouti vs Rwanda tie. The final phase of the qualifiers is scheduled for December 20-27, 2024.

Boost for CECAFA Region

For the first time, CAF has granted three nations Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania the privilege to co-host the prestigious CHAN tournament, significantly boosting the representation of the CECAFA region in the competition.

In addition to automatic qualification for the three hosts, the region will receive an extra qualification spot, allowing another CECAFA team to participate.

Kenya’s squad is scheduled to travel to Juba on Friday, October 25, 2024, ahead of the crucial first-leg encounter.