The African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 is set to kick off on August 2 at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The month-long tournament, which runs until August 28, will be hosted across four cities: Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania, Nairobi in Kenya, and Kampala in Uganda.
This marks a significant moment for East Africa, with Tanzania playing a central role in the tournament’s launch.
According to a statement from Tanzania’s Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed in a letter to Minister Professor Palamagamba Kabudi that the opening ceremony will take place at the iconic stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Minister Kabudi welcomed the decision and called on local stakeholders to seize the many economic opportunities that come with hosting CHAN.
These include increased business for local vendors, transport services, tourism, and potential foreign investment.
Professor Kabudi also noted that CHAN 2025 will serve as a build-up to the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027, which will be co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.
The heads of state from the three nations have already endorsed the preparations, focusing on infrastructure development and strengthening their national football teams.
CAF has released the official groupings for the CHAN 2025 tournament. Group A, hosted in Kenya, includes Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia.
Group B, set to take place in Tanzania, comprises Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, and Mauritania.
Group C matches will be held in Uganda and feature Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, and Algeria. Group D will be hosted in Zanzibar and includes Senegal, Congo, Sudan, and Nigeria.
The upcoming tournament offers not just a thrilling football experience, but also a regional opportunity for cultural exchange and economic collaboration, reaffirming East Africa’s rising status in African sports diplomacy.