The Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has officially announced that Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will co-host the 2025 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), which is scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28, 2025.
Qualifiers for the tournament are set to kick off during the weekend of October 25-27, 2024. Due to the involvement of three host nations, the tournament will feature 19 teams, an increase from the usual 16, allowing East Africa the opportunity to have an additional team qualify.
“CHAN is an excellent platform for Africa-based players. It’s a breeding ground for future AFCON champions,” said Motsepe. He expressed confidence that Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will deliver the best CHAN in the competition’s history, praising the commitment and willingness of the governments involved.
Originally slated for late 2024, CHAN was rescheduled to 2025 due to challenges with the football calendar. Kenya had previously won the bid to host the 2018 edition but was stripped of the rights due to lack of preparedness. However, Kenyan President William Ruto, while addressing the CAF Executive Committee, vowed to ensure that all necessary facilities will be ready for the tournament.
Five venues have been earmarked for the competition, with Kenya and Tanzania set to have two each and Uganda one. In Kenya, the Nyayo and Kasarani Stadia are being prepared to serve as the primary venues. Nyayo Stadium will close for renovations starting this week, while work at Kasarani is already underway, with a completion target set for December.
CAF president Motsepe also confirmed he will return to Kenya in December to assess the progress of the preparations.
