Former Nairobi governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has lodged a formal complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), challenging Kenya’s elimination from the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals at the hands of Madagascar.
Sonko has called for CAF to overturn the result of the match, which saw Madagascar progress after a controversial penalty decision and two disallowed goals for Kenya. He alleges that Senegalese referee Adelbert Diouf’s officiating unfairly influenced the outcome of the game, denying Kenya a rightful place in the semi-finals.
The outspoken politician argues that the goals disallowed for Kenya should be reinstated and that the penalty awarded to Madagascar — which led to their equaliser — should be nullified. According to Sonko, this would change the entire course of the match, including the need for a penalty shootout, which Madagascar ultimately won.
The complaint comes just days before the CHAN semi-finals, scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, putting additional pressure on CAF to issue a swift ruling. Sonko has urged African football’s governing body to take decisive action, insisting that Kenya’s elimination was unjust and a result of “refereeing bias.”
The high-profile intervention has sparked intense debate among fans and analysts, with Sonko taking to social media to publicise his stance. He posted a series of comments and video clips, arguing that Kenya’s players had been “robbed” of a fair result and calling for justice ahead of the tournament’s conclusion.
Kenya’s defeat was met with disappointment by supporters, many of whom share Sonko’s belief that key decisions went against the team at critical moments. The former governor’s formal submission to CAF is understood to include match footage and documentation outlining the disputed incidents.
CAF has yet to issue a public response to the complaint, but tournament regulations typically make overturning match results a rare occurrence, especially in knockout stages. Nevertheless, Sonko’s appeal is expected to be reviewed before the semi-finals commence, with Kenya’s hopes of reinstatement hinging on CAF’s deliberations.
The controversy has cast a shadow over what has otherwise been a highly competitive CHAN tournament, showcasing locally-based African talent. Madagascar’s progression to the final four was seen as a historic achievement for the Barea, but Sonko’s challenge has placed their semi-final preparations under scrutiny.
As the deadline for a decision approaches, Kenyan football officials and supporters await clarity on whether CAF will consider the complaint or uphold the match result. Sonko, a prominent and often outspoken figure in Kenyan politics, has vowed to continue pressing for a fair review, insisting that Kenya’s elimination was “a miscarriage of justice.”
CAF’s ruling is expected within hours of the semi-finals, leaving the fate of Kenya’s CHAN campaign hanging in the balance.