The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially approved Uganda’s readiness to host the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, following a successful stadium and facilities inspection conducted by a high-level delegation mid this month.
The inspection team, led by Mr. Ismael Wally, CAF’s Senior Manager National Teams Competitions, included officials from the CAF Guest Management and Hospitality, Safety and Security, Logistics and Storage, Team Services, Coordination, Marketing and Commercial, Ticketing and Access, Infrastructure and Media. The team toured the Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) —the main tournament venue — along with selected training grounds, accommodation facilities, broadcast zones, andmedical stations.
CAF praised Uganda’s “tremendous progress” in stadium rehabilitation, crowd control systems, team facilities, media infrastructure, and general event logistics. The delegation highlighted the state-of-the-art changing rooms, VIP hospitality suites, enhanced pitch quality, and improved perimeter fencing and lighting systems.
“I would like to congratulate for the amazing works done in the last one and half years of setting up great infrastructure. This stadium already hosted thw World Cup qualifiers and it is ready to host CHAN 2024,” said Mr. Wally.
Mr. Tasyobya Ambrose, the Chairman National Council of Sports and also doubles as the Chairman for the Infrastructure committee in CHAN2024/AFCON2027 Local Organising committee, represented Uganda’s Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang.
In his address, Mr. Tasyobya highlighted that as a Country, Uganda is ready to make the best of CHAN2024.
“Through such events, we also get an opportunity to bong with other East African countries and the rest of Africa as brothers, sisters, as one continent,” said Mr. Tasyobya.
He also attributed the success of the preparations to the Government of Uganda, under the stewardship of H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and coordinated through the Ministry of Education and Sports and Ministry of Works and Transport.
The clearance to host CHAN 2024 is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Uganda, including: a surge in sports tourism and hotel occupancy, boosted local employment through logistics, security, catering, and transportation services, increased visibility for Uganda’s football talent, tourism, and hospitality industry, and, opportunity to promote peace, culture, and continental unity.
CHAN2024 Match Schedules
The tournament will kick-off on Saturday, 02 August 2025 in Dar es Salaam with a fixture between co-host Tanzania and Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 20h00 local time (17h00 GMT).
On Sunday, 03 August, Nairobi will host two matches. Kenya will play their opening fixture at 15h00 local time (12h00 GMT) against Democratic Republic of Congo at the Moi International Sport Centre.
Later at 18h00 local time (15h00 GMT), Morocco takes on Angola at Nyayo Stadium.
At 20h00 (17h00 GMT), action will return to then Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, where Madagascar will play Mauritania in a bumper Sunday of action.
The opening matches in Kampala will be played on Monday, 04 August 2025 when co-hosts Uganda play Algeria at 20h00 local time (17h00 GMT), while before that Niger will play Guinea at 17h00 local time (14h00 GMT) at the same venue.
The Third-Fourth Place Play-Off will be played in Kampala on Friday, 29 August 2025 at Mandela Stadium. The kick-off is scheduled for 18h00 local time (15h00 GMT).
Nairobi’s Moi International Sport Centre in the suburb of Kasarani will host the Final the following day, Saturday 30 August 2025 at 18h00 local time (15h00 GMT).