After knowing the qualified selections for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), scheduled from February 1 to 28, 2025 in three co-host countries, namely Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the 8th edition risks to be, at best, postponed, due to delays in the delivery of the sports infrastructures which host the competition.
Muteesa Stadium II, Wankulukuku, one of the grounds for training of qualified teams, is currently undergoing renovations. The work, which began on Thursday December 26, aims to bring the stadium up to international standards. They include the construction of changing rooms, the installation of a VIP stand and floodlights. But the images cast doubt on the availability of the enclosure before the start of the tournament.
Other infrastructures, such as the Kabaka Kyabaggu stadium in Wakiso and that of the African Bible University in Lubowa, were ruled out due to their remoteness and traffic problems. Furthermore, the Kyambogo University training ground is still far from being operational.
Despite the inspection visit, carried out by CAF on December 20 and 21, the delays seem insurmountable. On site, Patrice Motsepe played the optimism card. Behind the scenes, the deadline for the delivery of infrastructure, initially scheduled for January 1, 2025, has been pushed back by three weeks. In other words, the stadiums will only be delivered 10 days before the CHAN kickoff.
The teams qualified for this edition are: Kenya (host country), Uganda (host country), Tanzania (host country), Morocco, Senegal, Guinea, Zambia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Mauritania, Niger, Congo, Angola, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Central Africa and the DRC.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has still not communicated a date for the draw for the tournament.
Par Chadi Ben Hassan
12/30/2024 at 2:38 p.m.
