Mkapa Stadium to host CHAN opening

DAR ES SALAAM’S Benjamin Mkapa Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the opening match of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, which will officially kick off on August 2nd, 2025.

The announcement was made by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) following consultations with the three host nations: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

This year’s edition of CHAN marks a significant return to East Africa, nearly a decade after the tournament was last held in the region during the 2016 edition in Rwanda. The tournament, which features players who compete in their national domestic leagues, will run from 2 to 30 August 2025.

CAF has also confirmed the venues for the key matches of the competition. The third-place match will take place in Kampala, Uganda at the newly upgraded Mandela Stadium, while the final will be staged in Nairobi, Kenya at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday, 30 August.

Also New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar will also serve as one of the host venues.

The group stage of the tournament will be shared across four East African cities, with each host nation accommodating a selection of participating teams.

Group A – Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia

Group B – Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic

Group C – Kampala, Uganda
Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, Algeria

Group D – Zanzibar
Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria