Why CAF postponed CHAN tournament from February to August

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe. Photo/Courtesy

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By Jabali Media

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

The tournament to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania was earlier scheduled to run from February 01 to February 28, 2025, before the postponement.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe while revealing the reason behind the move, said the three East African countries need more time to construct and upgrade stadiums earmarked for hosting of the tournament.

Good progress, Dr Motsepe said, has been made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda with the construction and upgrading of stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities for the hosting of a successful CHAN tournament.

However, the African football chief added, CAF Technical and Infrastructure experts advised the federation that more time is required to ensure that the infrastructure and facilities are at the levels necessary.

“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,” he said.  

“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 tournament.”

The exact date of the commencement of the Championship in August, will be announced by CAF in due course.

The draw for the tournament will however go on as planned, later today in Nairobi.