The stage is set for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, which will be held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in Nairobi on Saturday, August 30.
The highly anticipated event will not only draw thousands of football fans but will also host several high-profile dignitaries.
President William Ruto, alongside other senior government officials, is among those expected to be in attendance.
Additionally, FIFA President Gianni Infantino will attend the event alongside CAF President Patrice Motsepe and Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina.
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Morocco will face Madagascar for the continental title.
In the first semifinal played at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Morocco and Senegal drew 1-1 after extra time.
The North Africans prevailed 5-3 in the penalty shootout, knocking out the defending champions and advancing to their third CHAN final.
In Dar es Salaam, Madagascar booked their place in the final with a 1-0 win over Sudan at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
Substitute Toky Rakotondraibe scored the decisive goal in the 116th minute, sending Madagascar into their first-ever CHAN final.
Morocco heads into the contest as favorites, having won the tournament twice in 2018 and 2020.
Madagascar, meanwhile, have been the surprise package of the competition.
Despite going down to 10 men for nearly 40 minutes in their semifinal, they held firm and found the breakthrough late in extra time.
Fans will be able to watch the action live at Kasarani, with tickets already on sale; Regular tickets are priced at Ksh200, while Silver tickets cost Ksh500, available at chan.mookh.com.
Meanwhile, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo noted that the finalists carried more than just talent, adding that Kenya reaching the knockout stages is history in itself.
"The finalists represent the very best of Africa’s local football. Each side carries with it not just skill but also the dreams of millions - from Kampala to Dar es Salaam to Nairobi. Every goal scored, every tackle made, has been a story of resilience.
"For Kenya, reaching the knockout stages as debutants was already history written; for Uganda and Tanzania, carrying the weight of home support has lit up stadiums; and for the continental giants in the mix, the chase for the crown has been nothing short of fierce," he further said.
Describing the final in Nairobi as the pinnacle of the competition, Omollo noted that it will mark a defining moment for African football.
"Now, all roads lead to Kenya On the 30th of August, the continent will converge at Kasarani for the final chapter of CHAN 2024. It will be a football match marked by a coronation of discipline, unity, and African pride. From the first kickoff in Dar, Tanzania to the final whistle in Nairobi, Kenya, this has been a journey that redefined African football.
"And as the trophy is lifted under the Nairobi night sky, the legacy will be clear: CHAN 2024 has been more than a tournament - it has been Africa’s Homecoming, and Kenya is it’s crowing abbey," he concluded.
