THE Confederation of African Football (CAF), in collaboration with the three East African nations co-hosting the 2024 edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), has officially announced the venues for key matches of the tournament.

The much-anticipated event, which features national teams made up exclusively of players who play in their domestic leagues, will take place from August 2 to August 30, 2025, across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zanzibar.

Significantly, Tanzania has been given the honour of staging the opening match of the competition at the iconic Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, August 2, 2025. 

The announcement reaffirms Tanzania’s growing stature in African football, both in terms of infrastructure and the ability to host major continental events.

The opening fixture will mark the beginning of what is expected to be a historic tournament for East Africa. This will be the first time since Rwanda hosted the 2016 edition that the CHAN tournament returns to the East African region. 

For Tanzania, it is a moment of pride as the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 60,000 and modern amenities, prepares to showcase African football talent to the world.

In a move that spreads the tournament’s reach across multiple cities and regions, CAF also confirmed the venues for the third-place playoff and the final match. 

The Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, will host the third-place match, while the final will be played at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, August 30.

CAF has gone a step further to include Zanzibar as one of the host venues, highlighting the organization’s commitment to expanding the footprint and inclusivity of African football. 

The Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, which recently hosted the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup Final in May, will stage Group D matches, further reinforcing the region’s readiness to contribute to continental football development.

The host cities and group allocations for the tournament’s group stage were also unveiled, promising a vibrant football experience spread across four key locations:

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

Tanzania’s Group B fixtures will bring high-profile clashes to Dar es Salaam, offering local fans a chance to support their home team while enjoying competitive action against some of Africa’s emerging footballing nations.

The inclusion of Zanzibar in the tournament marks a historic milestone for the semi-autonomous region. Amaan Stadium’s successful hosting of the CAF Confederation Cup Final has demonstrated the island’s capacity to organize international-level matches, and its selection for CHAN 2024 further strengthens its role in African football.

Another notable update from CAF was the confirmation that Equatorial Guinea has been replaced by Congo in Group D, following a decision made by the CAF Appeals Board.

The 2024 CHAN tournament is anticipated to draw considerable attention from fans, scouts, and media across the continent. As the host nations prepare their venues and logistics, CAF has assured that further details regarding match schedules, ticketing information, and fan engagement activities will be released in due course.

The hosting of the CHAN opening match is not only a sporting achievement for Tanzania but also an opportunity to demonstrate its growing organizational capacity and hospitality. The nation’s investment in football infrastructure and talent development over the years has placed it in a position to host high-profile continental matches.

With the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium set to light up on August 2, the CHAN 2024 tournament promises a month-long festival of African football excellence, passion, and unity. As teams arrive from all corners of the continent, East Africa stands ready to deliver a memorable edition of the tournament  and Tanzania will proudly kick things off.