CAF postpones CHAN tournament to August
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the postponement of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) initially scheduled for kick off on February 1 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The tournament will now take place in August 2025 to allow more time for infrastructure development.
In a statement released on Tuesday, CAF highlighted significant progress in preparing the host nations for the tournament. Efforts to construct and upgrade stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals, and other facilities have been ongoing.
However, recommendations from CAF Technical and Infrastructure experts, some of whom are stationed in the host countries, emphasized the need for additional time to meet the standards required for a successful championship.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe expressed confidence in the preparations being made by the three East African nations.
He praised the commitment and leadership of Kenya’s President William Ruto, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni.
“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 will meet the requisite CAF standards by August 2025,” said Dr. Motsepe.
He reiterated that the decision to postpone was necessary to ensure the tournament’s success.
The highly anticipated draw for the tournament will still proceed as planned in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday at 8:00 PM local time. CAF is expected to announce the exact dates for the competition in August 2025 at a later stage.
The 2024 CHAN was set to mark the first time the tournament would be co-hosted by three nations. The decision to postpone, while a setback, offers an opportunity for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to solidify their preparations and deliver a world-class experience for players, officials, and fans.
With the extended timeline, CAF hopes the infrastructure will be at a level that sets a benchmark for future tournaments and showcases East Africa’s ability to host major football events.