Dr. Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has praised Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as the hosts for what he predicts will be the most successful Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) ever, scheduled for 2025.
The tournament is set to take place from February 1 to February 28, 2025, across the three East African nations under the “pamoja” banner. The first round of qualifiers will occur from October 25-27, 2024, with CAF soon to announce the stadiums and training facilities for the event.
Motsepe expressed satisfaction with Kenya’s preparations for the CHAN, though he noted there is still work to be done despite the progress made. He thanked President William Ruto for his commitment and investment in stadiums and infrastructure ahead of both the 2024 CHAN and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
“I am deeply grateful to President Ruto for his dedication, which he reaffirmed during our meeting this morning. I visited Kasarani, Nyayo, and Talanta City stadiums on Sunday and was impressed with the renovations. Kenya’s passion for football is evident, and the progress made is commendable,” Motsepe said.
The biennial tournament features players from their domestic leagues and will expand to 19 teams from the previous 16 due to the involvement of three host countries, providing East Africa with an additional qualification spot.
Motsepe emphasized the significance of CHAN for African-based players and its role in developing future AFCON champions. “I am confident that this CHAN will be the most successful in the history of the competition, both on the field and in terms of media coverage and global investment,” he stated.
Motsepe was joined by CAF General Secretary Véron Mosengo-Ombasa, CAF 1st Vice President Augustin Senghor from Senegal, 5th Vice President Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros, and Amaju Pinnick from Nigeria.
He expressed frustration over national teams playing home matches abroad due to inadequate stadiums, stressing the need for significant investment in football infrastructure.
Regarding the FKF elections, Motsepe expressed confidence that the federation would conduct its elections smoothly and on schedule. President William Ruto assured the CAF Executive Committee that all facilities will be prepared as planned.
Motsepe committed to returning in December to personally assess stadium progress before visiting Uganda and Tanzania.
