Sonko moves to court over Harambee Stars’ CHAN defeat to Madagascar
In his sworn affidavit dated Sunday, Sonko is seeking interim orders to overturn the penalty shootout results that saw Madagascar advance at Kenya’s expense.
Following Kenya's Harambee Stars' loss to Madagascar in the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 quarterfinal, former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has filed a legal petition contesting the elimination of the national side from the tourney.
The petition, lodged in Cairo, Egypt, was filed within the 48-hour deadline provided for disputes of this nature.
Copies have already been served to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Madagascar national team, and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
In his sworn affidavit dated Sunday, Sonko is seeking interim orders to overturn the penalty shootout results that saw Madagascar advance at Kenya’s expense.
He argues that two of Kenya’s goals were unfairly disallowed, which he claims robbed the team of a legitimate chance to progress to the semi-finals.
Specifically, Sonko is asking the court to suspend the decision that disallowed Kenya’s two goals, nullify the results of the penalty shootout, halt the upcoming semi-final match between Madagascar and Sudan, scheduled for August 26, 2025, until his case is heard.
Suspend the match officials who oversaw the Kenya-Madagascar fixture from officiating in the tournament until the matter is resolved.
“I swear this affidavit urging that the application for interim provisional measures herein be allowed as prayed,” Sonko stated.
The former governor insists that the credibility of the tournament is at stake if the controversial result is allowed to stand. His legal team has requested that the matter be fast-tracked, noting that the semi-final is only two days away.
Sonko, known for his flamboyant and dramatic interventions, has a history of supporting Harambee Stars. He had publicly pledged Sh400 million to the team if they won the CHAN tournament.
Kenya’s elimination sparked heated debate among both fans and players, many of whom questioned the quality of refereeing during the quarterfinal clash.
While some accepted the outcome, others argued that poor officiating and controversial decisions cost the Stars their place in the competition.
