The African Nations Championship (CHAN) is a biennial football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Unlike the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), CHAN exclusively features players who play in their home country’s domestic leagues. It was established to promote homegrown talent and strengthen local football structures across the continent.
The idea for CHAN was born on 11 September 2007 during a CAF Executive Committee meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa. The tournament was officially approved in January 2008, just before that year’s AFCON in Ghana where CAF selected Ivory Coast to host the inaugural edition of CHAN in 2009 beating Sudan and Egypt who also wanted to host the inaugural edition.
The first CHAN tournament in 2009 featured eight teams which were Côte d’Ivoire, Libya, Senegal, Ghana, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe with DR Congo who emerged as the inaugural champions defeating Ghana 2–0 in the final.
The success of the maiden edition spurred rapid interest across the continent, leading to the expansion of the tournament to 16 teams in 2011. Sudan hosted the second edition, which featured debut appearances by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Tunisia claimed their first title after defeating Angola 3–0 in the final while Sudan finished in third place.
Since its inception, CHAN has grown significantly in both stature and participation. The tournament has been hosted by various African nations over the years from Côte d’Ivoire (2009), Sudan (2011), South Africa (2014), Rwanda (2016), Morocco (2018), Cameroon (2020), Algeria (2022) and the upcoming 2025 edition will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The list of past winners reflects the diversity and competitiveness of African football. DR Congo has won the title twice (2009 and 2016), Tunisia (2011), Libya (2014), Morocco (2018 and 2020), and Senegal (2022) have each lifted the trophy once.
East Africa has been increasingly represented in CHAN. Uganda stands out as the most consistent participant from the region having qualified seven times in 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and as co host in 2025. Tanzania has qualified three times in 2009, 2020 and 2025 while counterparts Kenya are making their debut in 2025 as one of the co hosts. The joint hosting of the 2025 edition marks a historic moment for East African football symbolizing both regional unity and the growing importance of CHAN in nurturing local talent.
Through CHAN, CAF continues to offer a crucial platform for locally based players to shine on the international stage, while also contributing to the development and visibility of domestic football leagues across Africa.