Ah! By coming weekend, the African Nations Championship (CHAN) — a tournament that brings together Africa-based national team players — will get underway in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. What a magical moment we all expect it to be! And the joy of hearing that first whistle blow!

This is a showpiece that should get all Kenyans excited, and for once, force politics and politicians to take a back burner as we all cheer on our national squad even though we secured the berth on account of being co-hosts. That notwithstanding, this is a team that represents hope and renewal and brings together what we believe are Kenya’s best. Moreover, care has been taken in selecting them to fly our national flag high.

True, Kenya faces a tough field in Group A; Morocco — also known as the Atlas Lions — the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Angola. DRC and Morocco are hard nuts to crack because both are past winners of the championship.

Morocco lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2021 while DRC won in 2009 and 2016. Angola has once featured in the Fifa World Cup Finals, meaning that its level of sophistication in the game is higher than Kenya’s on paper. That leaves Zambia and Kenya as the minnows in the group.

Still and all, we have no reason to despair. Even David floored Goliath. And from the line-up, it is evident that Coach Benni McCarthy has put together a formidable constellation of youngsters who have the capacity to make Kenyans proud. That is why all football lovers, their relatives and friends should be encouraged to buy tickets and turn out in large numbers to support the home team.

What is more, that squad is probably the most cosmopolitan that Kenya has ever put together and we cannot lose sight of this especially given the divisive nature of recent political machinations. Looking at the line-up, it is difficult not to be optimistic. There is so much to look forward to, both inside and outside the stadiums where the matches will be played.

However, in as much as it is important to see the glass as half full, we cannot lose sight of the risks we face as a host nation. It has always painful to see national teams playing in empty stadia in past championships.

This is in sharp contrast to other regions, particularly Europe and the Americas, where football is both highly competitive and equally lucrative. There is, however, no reason why Kenya cannot buck the trend and show the rest of Africa how to host a fun party every match day of the tournament.

The other challenge is that in the past, Kenyans have lamented every time the national team failed to live up to the high expectations of fans. This time round, even as the youngsters face tough opponents, Kenyans have an opportunity to display their love for the game and the home team until it reaches its zenith. Who knows, we could benefit from underdogs’ luck and home advantage.

My biggest worry, for now, remains the quality of the opening ceremony on Kenyan soil. Past events have been not only colourful, but have leveraged the arts, culture, history and technology to make the experience magical and unforgettable.

It is sad that the local organising committee has been lamenting about under-funding, which is strange because when Kenyan officials were bidding for hosting rights, they understood clearly that pulling a successful tourney would require sufficient resourcing.

Since we do not know what has been lined up so far, let us give the team the benefit of the doubt, but let the message go out that we are expecting a spectacular show for both live and broadcast audiences. Kenya’s reputation hinges on how well we organise the tourney and we have an opportunity to make Africa proud.

mbugua@nairobilawmonthly.com