African Nations Championship Postponed Due to Incomplete Stadiums
CAF delays the tournament originally slated for February across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda citing infrastructure readiness issues.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the postponement of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament tailored for players active within local leagues, originally scheduled from 1st to 28th February.
The decision to delay the event, which was set to unfold across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, emerged due to incomplete stadium readiness as stated on CAF’s official website on Tuesday.
The biennial championship was organized to host athletes who play in domestic competitions, with the drawing of lots planned for Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya.
However, progress in the infrastructure in the host countries has not met required standards, prompting the delay.
CAF conveyed optimism regarding advancements made in developing and upgrading main stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, hospitals, and associated infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Nonetheless, technical and infrastructure experts affiliated with CAF, some of whom have been actively engaged in these regions, advised that further time is necessary to align facilities with standard criteria.
According to a source at Agence France-Presse, the CAF inspection delegation expressed dissatisfaction notably with the conditions of the stadiums and the availability of adequate training facilities.
The tournament had faced hurdles from the outset, as no country initially volunteered to host before CAF allocated the duty to the three East African nations.
The countries, in turn, viewed this as a simulation of their preparedness to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
Compounding these challenges was the refusal of certain nations, including Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa, to partake in the qualifications, which wrapped up in December 2024 with 14 teams securing spots alongside the host nations.
Subsequently, under the directive of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, non-participating nations were invited to compete in a playoff to determine two additional qualifying teams.
This would bring the tournament's participant roster to 19 teams, apportioned into four groups.
Details concerning the number of teams in the playoff and its scheduling remain to be finalized.
The decision to delay the event, which was set to unfold across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, emerged due to incomplete stadium readiness as stated on CAF’s official website on Tuesday.
The biennial championship was organized to host athletes who play in domestic competitions, with the drawing of lots planned for Wednesday in Nairobi, Kenya.
However, progress in the infrastructure in the host countries has not met required standards, prompting the delay.
CAF conveyed optimism regarding advancements made in developing and upgrading main stadiums, training facilities, accommodation, hospitals, and associated infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Nonetheless, technical and infrastructure experts affiliated with CAF, some of whom have been actively engaged in these regions, advised that further time is necessary to align facilities with standard criteria.
According to a source at Agence France-Presse, the CAF inspection delegation expressed dissatisfaction notably with the conditions of the stadiums and the availability of adequate training facilities.
The tournament had faced hurdles from the outset, as no country initially volunteered to host before CAF allocated the duty to the three East African nations.
The countries, in turn, viewed this as a simulation of their preparedness to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
Compounding these challenges was the refusal of certain nations, including Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa, to partake in the qualifications, which wrapped up in December 2024 with 14 teams securing spots alongside the host nations.
Subsequently, under the directive of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, non-participating nations were invited to compete in a playoff to determine two additional qualifying teams.
This would bring the tournament's participant roster to 19 teams, apportioned into four groups.
Details concerning the number of teams in the playoff and its scheduling remain to be finalized.