Dar to host CHAN 2024 opener as Zanzibar makes hosting debut
What you need to know:
The opening match will see the national football team, Taifa Stars hosting Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium from 6pm East Africa Time.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Mainland will host the opening match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to take place from August 2 to 30, 2025.
The opening fixture will feature the national football team, Taifa Stars, facing Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
The match will kick off at 6pm East Africa Time, marking the official start of the continental tournament.
The championship, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will be jointly hosted by three East African countries—Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. However, only Tanzania will stage the opening match.
According to CAF, Uganda’s Mandela National Stadium in Kampala has been selected to host the third and fourth matches of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s iconic Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi has been designated as the venue for the final match, which will be played on August 30, 2025.
In a notable development, CAF has also approved Zanzibar as one of the official host locations, reinforcing the organization’s goal of promoting inclusivity and the development of football across the continent.
The inclusion of Zanzibar follows the successful hosting of the CAF Confederation Cup 2024/25 final at Amaan Stadium in May this year, an event that drew praise for its organization and local support.
CAF has also announced the confirmed host cities and teams for the group stage of the CHAN 2024 tournament:
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
*Note: Congo replaces Equatorial Guinea following a ruling by the CAF Appeals Board.
The 2024 CHAN tournament is expected to bring significant excitement and attention to the East African region, as local fans prepare to witness some of the best home-based talent from across the continent.
With the opening match in Dar es Salaam, the spotlight will firmly be on Tanzania to set the tone for what promises to be a memorable edition of the tournament.
