East Africa Makes History with First Three-Nation CHAN Tournament

Kenya,Tanzania,and Uganda are set to make continental football history as the first countries to jointly host the African Nations Championship (c),with the tournament kicking off Saturday in Dar es Salaam. The 19-team competition,running through August 30,represents a milestone in regional cooperation and serves as preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The tournament features only players competing in their domestic leagues,providing a unique platform for homegrown talent to gain continental exposure. Group A includes two-time champions Morocco alongside hosts Kenya,Angola,Zambia,and the Democratic Republic of Congo,setting up compelling matchups from the opening rounds.

Co-hosts Uganda enter their seventh CHAN appearance with renewed optimism,having never progressed beyond the group stage in previous editions. They face formidable opposition in Group C,including Algeria,Guinea,Niger,and South Africa,but hope home advantage will finally break their qualification drought for the knockout phase.

Defending champions Senegal begin their title defense against Nigeria in Zanzibar on August 5,highlighting the tournament’s competitive depth. The restriction to domestic-based players creates opportunities for emerging talents to showcase their abilities to international scouts while celebrating African football’s grassroots foundations.

CAF postponed the tournament from its original February 2025 dates to allow additional time for infrastructure completion,with officials confirming all venues now meet required standards. Key facilities include Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi,both offering 60,000-seat capacities for major matches.

The triple-hosting arrangement demonstrates East Africa’s growing capability to organize major sporting events,with over 2,000 players,officials,fans,and media personnel expected to generate significant economic activity across the three nations. Success in delivering CHAN 2025 will strengthen the region’s credentials ahead of co-hosting AFCON 2027.