Azam FC eye CHAN 2024 as prime scouting ground

DAR ES SALAAM: AZAM FC has unveiled its strategic intent to leverage the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 as a key scouting platform to recruit foreign talent ahead of the 2025/26 football season.

With the prestigious continental tournament set to kick off on August 2 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Azam FC is seizing the opportunity to uncover hidden gems from across the continent, right on home soil.

Speaking on the club’s preparations, Thabiti Zakaria, Azam FC’s Head of Information and Communication, confirmed that the club has wrapped up its domestic recruitment phase, having secured four new local signings.

The focus now shifts toward reinforcing the squad with high-calibre foreign talent.

“Our domestic signings are done—we’ve introduced four new players,” Zakaria stated.

“The next phase is to strengthen the squad with foreign players and CHAN gives us a great opportunity to scout quality talent right here at home.”

Unlike other major tournaments, CHAN features only players active in their respective national leagues, offering a rare showcase of raw, homegrown talent.

For Azam FC, this represents a golden scouting opportunity with zero need for international travel or costly scouting missions abroad.

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“This tournament will bring in some of the best locally-based talent from across Africa. It’s a rare chance to evaluate players in a competitive setting and we’re confident we can find quality additions to help us build a stronger squad,” Zakaria added.

He also highlighted a critical advantage of CHAN scouting— early access to untapped talent.

Many of the players featured in the tournament may not yet be on the radar of global clubs but boast remarkable technical ability, discipline and hunger for success.

“One of the key benefits of scouting at CHAN is access to undiscovered talent. Many participants may not be internationally recognised yet, but they bring strong technical skills and a high level of competitiveness,” he said.

“For Azam FC, this is a chance to sign rising stars before they catch the eye of bigger clubs or command higher fees,” he added. “Scouting during CHAN allows us to assess players in real-time, under pressure.

It’s not about highlight reels or trial matches—these are real games that show how a player responds tactically, how they gel with teammates and how they perform under stress.

That insight is invaluable when assessing a player’s true fit within Azam FC, he further disclosed.

As the countdown to CHAN 2024 continues, Azam FC’s ambitions are crystal clear.

With sharp eyes on the pitch and a strategy built on smart, timely recruitment, the Ice Cream Makers are gearing up to build a squad capable of challenging for top honours in the seasons to come.