CHAN 2024: Govt rallies all sectors

TANZANIA: THE government has called on all sectors to intensify their preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is scheduled to kick off on August 2 in Tanzania.

The tournament, running up to 30 August, will unite three East African Community (EAC) member countries of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, through football.

The opening match is scheduled to kick off at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. From there, the journey will wind through Kampala, Uganda, for the third-place playoff and climax in Nairobi, Kenya, where the final match will crown the champions of Africa’s most celebrated home-based competition.

The government call comes amid rising urgency to ensure the country demonstrates its capacity to host the prestigious continental tournament successfully.

Speaking in Dodoma on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), Jim Yonazi, underscored the significance of CHAN 2024 as a national opportunity to showcase Tanzania’s ability to organise major international sporting events.

“This is a national opportunity. Our responsibility as the government is to create an enabling environment through robust infrastructure and well-coordinated services, so that every sector can benefit from this historic moment,” Yonazi said.

He stressed that preparations must extend beyond sports to critical sectors such as transport, hospitality, health, security and tourism, emphasising that effective inter-sectoral coordination is essential to delivering a safe, efficient and memorable tournament experience.

“This tournament is not just about football. It’s a platform to promote our national brand and stimulate cross-sector economic activity,” he added, noting that the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports will spearhead extensive public engagement campaigns to build a sense of national pride and unity.

Yonazi urged all Tanzanians to participate actively in the buildup to the event.

He said: “Through effective mobilisation and public involvement, Tanzanians from all walks of life can take ownership of the tournament and contribute to its success.”

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With just weeks to go, the government has prioritised infrastructure upgrades and agency collaboration to boost tourism, attract investment and empower local enterprises during the tournament window.

CHAN 2024 will officially kick off at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, where host nation Taifa Stars will face Burkina Faso in the opening match.

Thousands of players, officials and fans from across the continent are expected to take part in the championship in different ways, which features national teams composed exclusively of players active in their domestic leagues.