A historic chapter in African football begins on Saturday, August 2, 2025, as the much-anticipated TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 kicks off in East Africa.
Co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the unified banner “Pamoja” (Swahili for “together”) this year’s tournament marks the first time the CHAN competition is jointly hosted by three countries.
The tournament, which runs until August 30, features only players who play in their home countries’ domestic leagues, giving local talent a unique opportunity to shine on the continental stage.
It also serves as a critical rehearsal for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the three nations are also set to co-host.
Delayed from its original February schedule due to stadium readiness concerns, the tournament was officially launched following a successful final inspection by CAF, whose General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba praised the trio for their coordination and progress.
“This model of partnership is something the rest of Africa can learn from,” he remarked in Nairobi.
The curtain-raiser match will see Tanzania face Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Meanwhile, Uganda is set to play its first match against Algeria at the newly revamped Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on Monday, August 4.
Kenya, debuting under the leadership of head coach Benni McCarthy, joins Morocco, Angola, Zambia, and the DRC in a highly competitive Group A.
Adding to the excitement, African football legends Denis Onyango (Uganda), Victor Wanyama (Kenya), and Mrisho Ngasa (Tanzania) unveiled the new CHAN trophy ahead of the kickoff, symbolizing the spirit of unity and pride shared across the host nations.
The unveiling also celebrated the cultural and geographical connection among the hosts, linked not only by sport but also by Lake Victoria, which all three nations border.
The organization of CHAN 2024 reflects strong collaboration across governments and football federations, which began through the efforts of Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, Parliament Speaker Anita Among, and FUFA President Moses Magogo.
Their advocacy was instrumental in bringing the tournament to East Africa for the first time since a CAF event was last held in the region in 1976. As the tournament unfolds, all eyes are on East Africa, not just for the football, but for the example it sets in unity, preparation, and continental ambition.
