It is now official that the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone will get one additional slot in next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN).The move, made public by the Confederation of African Football on Thursday, is due to the fact that three host countries in the zone – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania – will get automatic qualification to the tournament that will be played between Saturday 1 to Friday 28 February 2025.Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania learn dates for 2024 CHAN tournamentAs a result, the total number of teams qualifying for the final championship will be increased from the previous 18 to 19.However, as per CAF, the three host nations will get a chance to test their mettle as they will also take part in the CHAN qualifiers that will now officially kick off on the weekend of Friday 25 to Sunday 27 October, and Friday 1 to Sunday 3 November 2024.The second round of the qualifiers will thereafter be played on Friday 20 to Sunday 22 December and Wednesday 25 to Friday 27 December 2024.##NAJAVA_MECA_8361780##“In addition to the automatic qualification as hosts, the team achieving the best result in the CECAFA Qualifiers will also advance to the final tournament,” CAF wrote.Other regional qualifiers – WAFU A, WAFU B, UNAF, UNIFFAC, and COSAFA – will each have three qualifying teams.The host stadiums and training venues as per CAF, will be confirmed in “due course.”Motsepe reveals dates, qualifying schedule of special CHAN involving Kenya, Uganda & TanzaniaAs per an early-season communication by FKF in August, Kasarani Annex, Police Sacco Stadium, and Ulinzi Sports Complex are poised to be “potential training venues” for the tournament, with Nyayo Stadium being tipped as the host of group matches.As for Uganda, the Nelson Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) has been proposed as a venue, with Tanzania going for Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
