NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has filed a case challenging the Harambee Stars’ controversial elimination from the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) quarterfinals by Madagascar.
The case has been formally lodged in Cairo within the required 48-hour window and served to the relevant authorities, including CAF, the Madagascar national team, and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
In an affidavit sworn on Sunday, Sonko is seeking interim orders to suspend the results of the penalty shootout in which Madagascar edged out Kenya. He argues that two of Kenya’s goals were wrongfully disallowed, which he claims unfairly denied the national team a chance to progress in the tournament.
In his petition, Sonko is asking the court to suspend the decision that disallowed Kenya’s two goals, nullify the results of the penalty shootout, and halt the upcoming semifinal fixture between Madagascar and Sudan, which is scheduled for August 26, 2025, until his complaint is heard.
He is also demanding that the match officials who handled the Kenya-Madagascar clash be suspended from officiating any further matches until the matter is conclusively determined.
“I swear this affidavit urging that the application for interim provisional measures herein be allowed as prayed,” Sonko stated in the affidavit.
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The outspoken former governor insists that the integrity of the tournament is at stake if the disputed match results are allowed to stand. His legal team is pushing for an urgent hearing before the semifinals begin in two days.
Kenya exited the tournament after a hard-fought match, and fans and players alike have expressed mixed reactions to the officiating.
The case adds a dramatic twist to CHAN 2024, leaving football authorities, teams, and supporters anxiously awaiting the court’s determination.
However, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed has reiterated that referees’ decisions are final in CAF competitions and that the federation will not be appealing.
“You cannot appeal to overturn the results of the game, unless there is clear evidence of inappropriate conduct from a referee….either direct match-fixing, or something very very gross,” Hussein said.
