According to a statement from the African body, the draw for the 8th edition of the tournament that is reserved for players, who play in their respective local leagues, will be conducted at the Kenyatta International Conventional Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, at 20h00 local time.
The statement from CAF read in part: “The Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 will be conducted at Kenyatta International Conventional Centre in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, at 20h00 local time.
“The much-anticipated tournament is uniquely reserved for African footballers plying their trade in their domestic leagues and will be co-hosted Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania between 1-28 February, 2025. The CHAN tournament will take place from 1-28 February, 2025 in the three countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.”
The statement continued: “The tournament will be graced by several of African football’s powerhouse nations, including reigning champions Senegal, who edged 2022 hosts Algeria in the final in Algiers two years ago to lift the title for the first time.
“As in previous editions, the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 promises to be a unique showcase of African football and a stepping stone for emerging talent to shine, such as Lamine Camara, who has since become a global star and was recently voted Young Player of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards.”
The statement by CAF comes a few weeks after President Patrice Motsepe assured that he was confident of the CHAN being staged in East Africa.
Motsepe, who was in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for facility inspection, further backed the three nations to co-host one of the most successful 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) tournament in February 2025.
“I leave Kenya with even more confidence and even more excitement that indeed there is a huge progress and there is a huge undertaking (from the government), of course there are challenges all over the world even when hosting the FIFA World Cup, the organisers face challenges, but for now, I am confident the next time I will be here in Kenya will be for the CHAN,” Motsepe told Flashscore in a previous interview.
“We have seen enormous progress, huge progress, it is amazing, I visited Kasarani and the training pitches that have been listed for use and we have seen enormous progress, I am confident that we will have the most exciting tournament here in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.”
“There will be 19 nations, who will take part in the tournament from all over the continent and media from all over Africa will be here, and Africa football is watched all over the world, we are going to have the most successful CHAN in the history of the tournament.”
Motsepe concluded: “With this level of commitment from the government, to make sure that the stadium, infrastructure are ready for February, I have all the confidence in the world that the preparation for the CHAN will be very successful.”
Kenya have made significant strides to host CHAN
According to Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chairman Nicholas Musonye, Kenya are on the right track to co-host the tournament. While admitting the assignment was tough, Musonye said the country was miles ahead from where they started.
“Indeed, there is a lot of work to do, but we are fully committed. We’re working around the clock, holding daily meetings and ensuring contractors remain on track. It’s a tough assignment, but we’re determined to deliver,” Musonye said as quoted by Telecomasia.net.
“The challenge is immense, but we’ve made significant strides. Where we are now is miles ahead of where we started. That’s why CAF was impressed during their recent visit. We still have plenty to do, but our team is working tirelessly to meet the deadlines.”
He concluded: “Kenya is more than ready. Once our facilities are in top shape, I have no doubt we’ll deliver a world-class tournament. We have excellent infrastructure, reliable healthcare, top-notch internet connectivity, and unmatched hospitality. I am very confident in our ability to pull this off.”
The 2024 CHAN tournament will be the eighth edition and the third time that it is hosted in the CECAFA Zone after Sudan in 2011 and Rwanda in 2016.
The DR Congo and Morocco are the most successful teams in this tournament with two titles each, followed by Tunisia, Libya and incumbent champions Senegal with one title each. The tournament began life in 2009 with eight teams, which was doubled for the 2nd edition up until the 6th and is currently contested by 18 teams since the 2022 edition.
