CAF Announces Postponement of TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 to August Due to Infrastructure Readiness
By Musa Kikuuno, Busoga Times ll whatsapp 0756322265
January 14, 2024 – In a significant development that will reshape the African football calendar, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the postponement of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, which was originally scheduled to run from February 1st to 28th, 2025. The tournament will now take place in August 2025 across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The decision to delay the competition comes after CAF’s technical and infrastructure experts, who have been closely monitoring the progress of preparations in the three host countries, recommended that additional time be allocated to complete the required upgrades to stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals, and other essential facilities. Despite the fact that significant progress has been made, the experts advised that more time is needed to meet CAF’s high standards for hosting the continental tournament.
CAF President, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, thanked the governments of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda for their ongoing commitment and leadership in ensuring that the infrastructure projects are completed to the highest standards. He expressed his confidence in the successful delivery of the tournament come August.
“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 made in the construction and upgrading of the football infrastructure,” said Dr. Motsepe in the statement. “I am particularly impressed with the ongoing work on the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals, and other facilities. I am confident that by August 2024, these facilities will meet the required CAF standards, and we will be able to host a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship.”
The postponement, though disappointing to fans who had eagerly awaited the tournament’s February debut, will allow for finalizing the preparations, ensuring that the event is executed without compromise.
CAF also announced that the draw for the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship will take place in Nairobi on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 20:00 Nairobi time. The exact dates of the tournament in August will be confirmed in due course.
This announcement marks a continuation of the challenges faced by the tournament, which was previously postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The CHAN is an important competition for African players who participate exclusively from their domestic leagues, and its success is vital for the continued development of African football.
While the delay may have dampened the excitement of fans and players alike, the additional time is expected to result in a more organized and well-executed tournament. CAF has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship 2024 in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be a memorable event that highlights the best talent in African football.
Key Dates:
Draw for CHAN 2024: January 15, 2025, at 20:00 Nairobi Time
New Tournament Dates: August 2025 (Exact start date to be confirmed)
