Nigeria, Sept. 3 -- When Kenya joined forces with Uganda and Tanzania to co-host the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN), it was not just about welcoming continental football.

For Kenyans, it marked the end of a decades-long exile. Not since the 1987 All Africa Games; when the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani was first unveiled, had elite African football graced Kenyan soil.

The long thirst was finally quenched. And in its wake, CHAN 2024 left behind a legacy that went far beyond 90 minutes of action. It gave Kenyans modern stadiums, a revitalised fan culture, emerging heroes on the pitch, and most importantly, a renewed confidence in the nation's footballing future.

One of the clearest victories of CHAN 2024 was the transformation of Ke...