CAF Postpones CHAN 2024 to August, Cites Infrastructure Delays
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a postponement of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to August 2025. The tournament, originally scheduled to begin on February 1, will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In a statement published on CAF’s official website, the decision was attributed to the need for additional time to complete infrastructure and facilities. CAF’s Technical and Infrastructure team, stationed in the host nations, recommended the delay to ensure the tournament meets the required standards.
Progress and Commitment
CAF highlighted significant progress in upgrading stadiums, training grounds, hotels, hospitals, and other facilities but stressed that more time would guarantee readiness for a successful competition.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe expressed confidence in the host nations’ efforts:
“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 and the good progress made. I am confident that the infrastructure will meet CAF standards to host a very successful tournament in August 2025.”
Despite the postponement, the draw for the tournament will proceed as planned in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. local time. CAF stated that the exact start date in August will be announced later.
Nigeria’s Preparations in Full Swing
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles are intensifying preparations for the CHAN tournament in Ikenne, Ogun State. Newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle has joined the camp, accompanied by his agent, Sidibe Brehima, and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau clarified that Chelle would oversee the team in a supervisory role, while Daniel Ogunmodede, Fidelis Ilechukwu, and Olatunji Baruwa, who led the team through qualifiers, would continue to manage preparations and participation.
Motivation for Success
The CHAN winner will receive a $3.5 million prize (approximately ₦5.4 billion), providing strong motivation for the 18 participating teams, including Nigeria.
CAF’s decision aims to ensure that the tournament achieves the highest standards, reflecting the shared commitment of all stakeholders to deliver a memorable event for African football.
