What CHAN postponement means for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

By Peter Ochieng

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 announced the postponement of the 8th edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament, from February to August 2025.

The tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania was initially scheduled for 1st to 28th February, 2025.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe said the three East African neighbors need more time to put the relevant infrastructure in place, for a successful CHAN tournament.

“I would like to express my deep gratitude to President William Ruto of Kenya, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda for their leadership, commitment and the good progress that has been made in building and upgrading the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for hosting a successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (“CHAN”) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024.”

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 and facilities will be at the requisite CAF standards for hosting, in August 2025, a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (“CHAN”) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda 2024,” he added.

What does the postponement mean for the three countries?

Kenya

The postponement serves as music to the ears of football administrators in the country!

For starters, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed and his vice, former Kenyan international MacDonald Mariga are barely two months in office, having been elected in December 2024.

They truly need time to prepare Harambee Stars for an important international assignment like CHAN.

Mark you, the team is still minus a substantive coach, following the resignation of Engin Firat in December.

A new head coach is expected to be appointed sooner than later. The incoming coach, rumours has it that the powers that be at FKF have settled on South Africa legend Benni McCarthy, would not have had enough time to prepare the team for the continental assignment, which features players plying their trades in their national leagues.

Additionally, the team was ill-prepared for the tournament – if being dumped out of the Mapinduzi Cup in Tanzania at the group stage is anything to go by.

The postponement is therefore generally welcome in Kenya.

Uganda and Tanzania

The only East African nations to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament set for December this year.

With football leadership stability coupled by active technical benches, these two nations were much ready for the CHAN tournament, compared to Kenya.

The postponement only gives them room to up their preparations, ahead of the tournament in August.