Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has ignited a storm in African football, filing a dramatic petition to overturn Harambee Stars’ controversial elimination from the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) quarterfinals against Madagascar.
Racing against time, Sonko lodged the case in Cairo, Egypt within the mandatory 48-hour window, serving CAF, Madagascar’s national team, and FKF.
In his sworn affidavit, he implores the court to suspend the penalty shootout results that cruelly ended Kenya’s CHAN dream—arguing that two legitimate Kenyan goals were wrongfully disallowed, stripping the nation of its rightful chance at glory.
Sonko’s petition seeks nothing less than justice: the nullification of the penalty shootout, suspension of Madagascar’s upcoming semi-final clash with Sudan, and the immediate sidelining of the match officials whose decisions shattered Kenyan hearts.
“I swear this affidavit urging that the application for interim provisional measures herein be allowed as prayed,” Sonko declared with resolve.
For Sonko, this is about more than one match—it’s about safeguarding the integrity of African football. His legal team is pressing for an urgent hearing before the semi-finals kick off in just two days, warning that failure to act would cast a permanent shadow over CHAN 2025.
The stakes are monumental. Sonko had pledged a staggering KSh400 million reward if Harambee Stars triumphed in the tournament, fueling the team’s hopes.
Now, with Kenya’s bitter exit sparking nationwide outrage and fans decrying “daylight robbery,” the case has plunged CHAN 2025 into unprecedented suspense.
As the football world waits with bated breath, one question hangs heavy in the air: will justice be delivered, or will Harambee Stars’ dream remain buried in controversy?
