The Confederation of African Football Executive Committee have stripped Kenya of the right to host the 2018 African Nations Championship ©CAF

Kenya has been stripped of its right to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The decision was announced following a CAF Executive Committee meeting today in Accra, Ghana's capital. 

Doubts had existed for several weeks about Kenya's readiness to host Africa's second-tier competition behind the Africa Cup of Nations following concerns over infrastructure.

The recommendation that Kenya have the Championship taken away from them followed a visit led by CAF second vice-president and FIFA Council member Constant Omari to Nairobi earlier this month. 

They reported that only one of the four venues necessary to stage the tournament, due to take place between January 12 and February 4 next year, was ready. 

The event differs from the higher-level Africa Cup of Nations as only players who represent clubs on the continent are allowed to take part.

There was also concern about the political situation in Kenya, where recently annulled Presidential elections are set to be rerun on October 26. 

A delegation led by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa, Sports Permanent Secretary Kirimi Kaberia and event director Herbert Mwachiro had travelled to Accra to try to persuade CAF to let them keep the event.

They made  a 33-slide PowerPoint presentation to the CAF Executive Committee but even that failed to persuade them to change their mind.

"We have done our best," said Mwendwa.

When being elected President of FKF last year, Mwendwa had promised to resign if Kenya lost the right to host the event. 

Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa, right, could not prevent Kenya being replaced as host of the 2018 African Nations Championship following a visit by CAF second vice-president Constant Omari, left, to Nairobi ©KFK
Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa, right, could not prevent Kenya being replaced as host of the 2018 African Nations Championship following a visit by CAF second vice-president Constant Omari, left, to Nairobi ©KFK

It is the second time that Kenya has been stripped of one of CAF's flagship events.

In 1996 they were replaced as hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations by South Africa. 

Kenya would have been the second successive East African country to stage the CHAN after Rwanda in 2016.

Other hosts since the 2009 inception of the Nations Championship have been Ivory Coast, Sudan and South Africa.

Ivory Coast, Morocco or South Africa may replace Kenya.

Countries interested in hosting CHAN have until September 30 to make an application to CAF.

They plan to make a decision within 15 days of the deadline of bids being submitted.

Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda and Zambia have qualified for the 2018 finals.

Kenya completed the line-up as the host nation - a position they now forfeit.