East African Nations set for CHAN warm-up with Congo Brazzaville

Matchday 1 – July 21, 2025

Kenya v Uganda 1pm

Tanzania v Congo Brazzaville 4pm

Matchday 2 – July 24, 2025

Uganda v Congo Brazzaville 1pm

Tanzania vs Kenya 4pm

Matchday 3 – July 27, 2025

Congo Brazzaville v Kenya 1pm

Uganda v Tanzania 4pm

Co-hosts Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania will be joined by Congo Brazzaville in a four-nation warm-up tournament ahead of the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The competition is set to run from July 21 to July 27 at Karatu Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania.

This mini-tournament offers a vital opportunity for teams to assess their readiness before CHAN officially begins on August 2 in Dar es Salaam. Organized by the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), the event is designed to help participating teams fine-tune their strategies, bolster team chemistry, and evaluate their systems ahead of continental competition.

CECAFA Executive Director Auka John Gecheo emphasized the value of the tournament, describing it as a key platform for zonal teams to prepare effectively for CHAN. In accordance with CHAN regulations, all teams will feature home-based players only. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing three matches. The team accumulating the most points will be crowned champion.

The action kicks off on July 21 with Kenya’s Harambee Stars facing Uganda Cranes in a spirited regional clash, while hosts Tanzania take on Congo Brazzaville in the second fixture of the day.

On July 24, Uganda will meet Congo Brazzaville, and Tanzania will battle Kenya in another eagerly anticipated East African derby. The final matchday on July 27 will round off the competition with fixtures yet to be confirmed, expected to offer valuable insights into each team’s tactical setup before CHAN proper.

Sudan, a CECAFA member and CHAN 2024 qualifier, has opted to withdraw from the warm-up tournament to concentrate on its domestic league, which recently resumed.

Uganda, one of the three CHAN co-hosts, will compete in Group C against Algeria, Guinea, Niger, and South Africa—a demanding group that requires optimal preparation and discipline. All of Uganda’s fixtures will be played at Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, where they will face Algeria on August 4, Guinea on August 8, Niger on August 11, and South Africa on August 18.

The Local Organising Committee has pledged to keep ticket prices affordable, encouraging high fan turnout.

FUFA also announced that the CHAN trophy will tour various regions of Uganda, although specific stops have not been disclosed. FUFA Deputy CEO Humphrey Mandu Mugimba urged Ugandans to actively participate in the landmark tournament.

This 8th edition of CHAN is particularly significant, marking the first time the competition will be jointly hosted by three nations—Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania—under the Pamoja East Africa partnership. A total of 19 countries are set to compete, including defending champions Senegal, record holders DR Congo, two-time winners Morocco, and debutants Kenya and Central African Republic.