In general, we never talk about trains arriving on time. This is somewhat the case for the 2025 African Nations Championship (Chan) whose final phase is scheduled from February 1 to 28, 2025, co-organized by three countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, where We talk a lot more about the absentees than about the countries which will host the qualifying phase.
Indeed, the last qualifying round is scheduled during the last decade of this month of December (going between the 20th and the 22nd and return between the 27th and the 29th) where 30 selections are in the running.
However, the late announcement of this competition, last September, and the difficulties encountered by the host countries in being ready to host this event have thrown more confusion and especially apprehension into the holding of this tournament where the risk reporting is seriously looming.
This situation even seems to vindicate around fifteen nations who refused to commit to the qualifying phase.
The difficulty for some (Somalia and Eritrea) of setting up a local selection and the problem of a busy schedule for others (Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, etc.) led 15 nations to make the deadlock on the next Chan 2025 and opened the way to all the controversies, as well as to outright attacks against Caf which, it must be admitted, shot itself in the foot by showing itself unable to protect this competition by integrating it into its calendar sufficiently in advance and designating one or more countries capable of hosting it. And even at this level, there is a problem, with Kenya which is not ready and which could be replaced by Rwanda.
However, at Caf level, we still hold on to this competition and there is no question of canceling it, even less of eliminating it altogether, as some suggest. This competition is a real opportunity for several nations to perform and show the progress noted at the national championship level.
Certainly the Can and the World Cup are more rewarding competitions and represent fairly high objectives for certain nations, but for others the Chan remains a great showcase and an opportunity to measure the degree of progress of local football.
It is therefore up to Caf to make more efforts to promote the Chan and make it an unmissable, attractive event with more interesting financial benefits for the participating selections.
With africafootunited
