Uganda Cranes Take on Niger, Guinea as The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania 2024 Draw is Held: Exciting Matchups Ahead
Uganda’s group remains an unknown quantity, with two spots yet to be filled. The Cranes will aim to dominate their home turf while navigating the challenge posed by Guinea and Niger.
The stage is set for the much-anticipated TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania 2024, as the draw for the finals was held on Wednesday, 15 January 2025, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya. The glittering ceremony, attended by prominent football personalities, delivered a series of thrilling group-stage matchups that promise a captivating tournament.
This will be the 8th edition of the CHAN competition, a unique tournament exclusively featuring players who ply their trade in their domestic leagues, showcasing Africa’s rich reservoir of homegrown talent. The tournament, set to take place in August 2025, marks the first time East Africa has hosted the event since Rwanda in 2016.
The 19 teams were drawn into four groups, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as hosts and seeded teams in their respective groups. Two slots remain to be filled through a qualification campaign involving Algeria, Comoros, Gambia, Malawi, Egypt, South Africa, and Gabon.
Group A: Kenya (Hosts) Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
This group has been termed the "Group of Champions," with three past winners — Morocco, DR Congo, and Zambia — bringing rich tournament experience. Hosts Kenya will look to leverage home advantage in their quest for glory.
Group B: Tanzania (Hosts), Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
Tanzania’s group appears to be evenly matched, with emerging teams such as Madagascar and Burkina Faso likely to give tough competition.
Group C: Uganda (Hosts), Niger, Guinea, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2
Uganda’s group remains an unknown quantity, with two spots yet to be filled. The Cranes will aim to dominate their home turf while navigating the challenge posed by Guinea and Niger.
Group D: Senegal (Defending Champions), Congo, Sudan, Nigeria
This tightly contested group features defending champions Senegal and African football powerhouses Nigeria, Congo, and Sudan.
The draw was conducted with the assistance of three East African football legends: Hassan Wasswa (Uganda) Mrisho Ngasa (Tanzania) McDonald Mariga (Kenya).
Their presence added a touch of star quality and regional pride to the event.
Unique Format:
The CHAN tournament celebrates homegrown talent, featuring players exclusively from their domestic leagues. This makes it a unique platform for showcasing local football prowess. East Africa Hosts: The tournament brings the spotlight to East Africa, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania sharing hosting duties and bringing their distinct cultures and football enthusiasm to the fore. Past Winners: Morocco and DR Congo have each won the trophy twice, while Tunisia, Libya, and defending champions Senegal have also lifted the prestigious title.
Upcoming Qualifiers
Seven teams — Algeria, Comoros, Gambia, Malawi, Egypt, South Africa, and Gabon — will battle it out to secure the remaining two slots in Group C. The qualifiers are expected to be fiercely competitive, with each team aiming to join the CHAN finals.
With the draw complete, anticipation is at an all-time high. Fans across Africa are gearing up to witness the continent's best local talents compete for football supremacy in August 2025. From the “Group of Champions” to the rising stars of East Africa, the CHAN 2024 promises to be a landmark event in African football history.
Stay tuned for updates on fixtures, team preparations, and stories as we count down to this exciting showcase of African football!