The President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has expressed his aspirations to see Tanzania reach the finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) for local-based players.
Motsepe shared these sentiments during his visit to Tanzania today after landing at Julius Nyerere International Airport. He is touring host nations of the 2025 CHAN tournament, with his first stop being an inspection of Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
“I wish to be humble, but my heart overflows with hope for Tanzania. I dream of seeing the country reach the CHAN finals,” said Motsepe.
He highlighted that CHAN presents significant opportunities for young people to achieve their dreams and noted that Tanzania’s role as one of the host nations could inspire future generations.
“We are all children of the great leader Mwalimu Nyerere. Tanzania has always led the way in many areas, and under the leadership of Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) President Wallace Kariasoka, the country’s football has grown remarkably,” he added.
Motsepe expressed confidence that CHAN 2025 will be a unique tournament, showcasing Tanzania’s exceptional potential and captivating the global audience.
After inspecting Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, he confirmed its readiness to host the tournament’s opening ceremony.
He commended the progress made in the stadium’s preparations, noting that while he had received updates previously, seeing the developments firsthand left him deeply impressed.
Motsepe also encouraged private sponsors to support CHAN preparations and congratulated Tanzania for winning the 2024 Africa Schools Championship held in Uganda.
After completing his tour of Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Motsepe will travel to Zanzibar to inspect the New Amaan Complex Stadium. His next stops include Uganda and Kenya, the other two host nations for CHAN 2025.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Gerson Msigwa, expressed gratitude for Motsepe’s approval of Tanzania’s preparations.
“Preparations are progressing well and are currently at 70%. This includes upgrading stadiums, facilities, and installing new seats, which will be completed soon,” said Msigwa.
He added that three training grounds—Major General Isamuhyo, the Law School grounds, and Gymkhana—are under construction.
“Here at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, we are ready even if the tournament begins tomorrow,” Msigwa remarked confidently.
Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda are set to jointly host the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), marking a milestone for regional collaboration in African football.