There’s a conspiracy by top government operatives to have Kenya banned by Fifa as a diversionary tactic over the issue of the failed construction and renovations of stadiums.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Dr Amina Mohammed and the ministry’s Principle Secretary Joe Okudo after failing to account for Ksh23 billion allocated for the stadiums.
The duo are now hell bent to have the country banned by the world governing football body Fifa so that they can cover up for the misdeeds of embezzling money meant for preparations of the national football teams amounting to Sh88 million.
Amina and Okudo have hatched a plan to corner Football Kenya Federation (FKF) by toying with the idea of blackmail and threats and painting the federation negatively to whip up emotions and sympathy of Kenyans into distracting them from being questioned about the incomplete works on stadiums.
Recently, Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspectors banned the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium from hosting international matches for falling short of the required standards.
The ministry saw the imminent ban of the stadiums coming and decided to engage war with the federation through the press.
Amina and Okudo knew that once the country’s only international stadiums were suspended from hosting matches will end up with them being questioned about the use of the Ksh23 billion that was allocated for the work.
Record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia and the league’s reigning champions Tusker FC will be forced to play their home matches in another adopted country.
Due to the lack of a standard Fifa approved stadium, Mali hosted Harambee Stars at the 45,000 capacity Stade Adrar in Agadir
Mali, ranked 10th in Africa, are among eight countries who have been barred from hosting 2022 World Cup qualifiers next month after failing Confederation of African Football (CAF) venue inspections.
Other nations who must use a neutral ground for a home fixture between September 1-November 15 are Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Namibia and Niger.
Mali boasted six international-standard stadiums, including two in Bamako, when they staged the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
Poor stadium maintenance is a major problem in Africa and South African Patrice Motsepe warned offenders soon after being elected CAF president this year to rectify the situation or face the consequences.
The bans were confirmed when FIFA released the fixtures for the first two rounds of a group programme that also involves double matchdays in October and November.
All 40 teams bidding for five places at the 2022 finals in Qatar will play two fixtures — one home and one away — during September.
With only the 10 section winners advancing to the final elimination phase next March, the potential loss of home advantage for three matches could be crucial.
Countries whose stadium facilities and or playing surfaces were considered not up to international standards were allowed to nominate alternate venues.
Burkina Faso, Niger (both Marrakech), Djibouti (Rabat) and Mali (Agadir) opted for Morocco and Malawi and Namibia (both Soweto) selected South Africa.
The Central African Republic (Douala) picked Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau (Nouakchott) decided on Mauritania.
All the countries chose venues relatively close geographically except Djibouti as Djibouti City is about 5,600 kilometres (3,480 miles) southeast of Rabat if flying directly between the capital cities.
kenya face the possibility of hosting Rwanda in Somalia or Tanzania in the last match of the first round of the 2022 FIFA Worldcup qualifiers.
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