Victor Wanyama hails TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 impact as trophy arrives in Kenya

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The TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) trophy has arrived in Kenya ahead of Saturday’s final at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Nairobi.

Kenyan legend Victor Wanyama, the official ambassador for the tournament, accompanied the glittering silverware as it made its first stop at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

The former Harambee Stars captain described the moment as an “honour” for both himself and the country.

“It’s a good feeling, first of all, for CHAN to be hosted by all three East African countries, and it is an honour to be the trophy ambassador. I am grateful,” Wanyama said, visibly moved as he placed his hand on the coveted trophy.

Wanyama’s pride and message to young players

Wanyama, who represented Kenya at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations and enjoyed a glittering club career in Europe, said the occasion was about inspiring the next generation.

“It is a great feeling to represent the country at the highest stage and to show what we have in terms of football talent,” he said.

“It is every young footballer’s dream to reach those levels and I know after this tournament they will be burning inside to do this again.”

Although Kenya were eliminated at the quarter-final stage, Wanyama insisted the team’s showing had made the nation proud.

“This is a really beautiful trophy. I wish we were still in the fight to win it but I am proud of what the team achieved,” he added.

Nairobi’s football fever

The trophy’s arrival comes as the Kenyan capital has been buzzing with CHAN fever.

Capacity crowds have packed the Kasarani Stadium, while fan zones across the city have seen thousands of supporters gather to watch games together.

“The tournament has been really great with the way CAF has organized everything from the teams to the supporters,” Wanyama said.

“It has been an electric atmosphere in Nairobi with full stadia and so many fans flocking in to watch football. This is a great moment for us and it shows that there will be bigger things to come in 2027 when the AFCON comes here.”

A symbol of East Africa’s progress

Saturday’s final at Kasarani will crown the new champions of Africa’s home-grown talent, with defending champions Senegal, two-time winners Morocco, Sudan and Madagascar in contention.

For now, the trophy’s brief stop in Nairobi has given Kenyans a chance to revel in the tournament’s impact, as East Africa continues to show its appetite for continental football.

As the trophy sparkled in the morning sun, it was a reminder of how far football in the region has come — and how much further it still dreams to go.