The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a six-month postponement for the next edition of its African Nations Championship (CHAN) citing concerns over stadium and infrastructure preparations in the three host countries – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The announcement was made yesterday (Tuesday), with the national team tournament having been due to run from February 1-28. CAF said “good progress” has been made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the construction and upgrading of stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities for the hosting of a successful event.
However, it added that CAF technical and infrastructure experts, some of whom have been based in the three nations, have advised that more time is required to ensure that the infrastructure and facilities are at the levels necessary.
With this in mind the CHAN has been moved to August, with precise dates to be determined in due course.
President of CAF, Patrice Motsepe, said: “I would like to express my deep gratitude to President William Ruto of Kenya, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for their leadership, commitment and the good progress that has been made in building and upgrading the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for hosting a successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024.
“I am impressed with the ongoing construction and renovations of the football infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. I am confident that the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities will be at the requisite CAF standards for hosting, in August 2025, a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024.”
The CHAN 2024 hosting rights were awarded in December 2023, following September’s announcement that Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The 2027 edition will mark the first time CAF’s showpiece tournament has been staged in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted in 1976, and the first time the event has been played in three countries. CHAN 2024 is regarded as a test run for the three nations’ infrastructure preparations.
