After Stadium Delays, African Nations Championship Kicks Off

Following significant delays in stadium renovations, East Africa is now poised to co-host the much-anticipated African Nations Championship (CHAN), which commences this Saturday.

It marks a landmark moment for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, whose joint bid titled “Pamoja” — meaning “together” in Swahili — was submitted two years ago. This collaborative initiative has led to the first Confederation of African Football (CAF) tournament in the region since 1976 and the first-ever CHAN to be co-hosted by three nations.

The CHAN tournament, which runs until 30 August, serves as a curtain-raiser for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, also set to be hosted jointly by the trio.

Unlike AFCON, CHAN features only players active in their home countries’ domestic leagues, excluding those playing professionally abroad.

Stadium Readiness and CAF Praise

Preparations for the tournament were marred by repeated setbacks, particularly in getting five key stadiums ready. Initially scheduled for February, the tournament was postponed by CAF to allow the host nations additional time for infrastructural readiness.

During his final inspection in Nairobi last week, CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba lauded the regional cooperation:

“I think we in Africa need to learn from this model. Three countries have pooled their efforts and resources to successfully deliver,”
— Veron Mosengo-Omba, CAF General Secretar

Tournament Overview

The tournament includes 19 participating nations and kicks off with the opening match between Tanzania and Burkina Faso at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Group Composition

Fixtures

Team Highlights & Key Players

🇲🇦 Morocco

• Returning after boycotting the 2023 edition in Algeria.
• Fielding one of the strongest squads, including six players from the CAF Confederation Cup-winning side.
• Rachid Ghanimi, an Olympian goalkeeper, will feature prominently.

🇰🇪 Kenya

• Making their tournament debut under Benni McCarthy, the former South African international and current Manchester United assistant coach.
• McCarthy acknowledges the challenge:

“Honestly, it is a great challenge… The difficult teams will always be in your path. You have to beat them anyway.”
— Benni McCarthy, Head Coach, Kenya

🇺🇬 Uganda

• Participating in their 7th CHAN appearance, though they have never reached the knockout stages.
• Hopes are high with the inclusion of former national captain Denis Onyango as part of the coaching staff, specifically to enhance the goalkeeping department.

🇸🇳 Senegal

• Defending champions.
• Will open their campaign against Nigeria at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on 5 August.

Regional Legacy and Looking Ahead

The success of this co-hosted CHAN is being viewed as a template for future regional tournaments on the continent. The collaboration has not only addressed infrastructure challenges but also boosted regional unity.

This championship serves not only as a football spectacle but also as a dress rehearsal for AFCON 2027, setting the tone for what may become a new era of East African football prominence.