Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024
Saturday
Tanzania v Burkina Faso – 8pm
Sunday
Kenya v DR Congo – 3pm
Morocco v Angola – 6pm
Madagascar v Mauritania – 8pm
Monday
Niger v Guinea – 5pm
Uganda v Algeria – 8pm
Match officials
Lotfi Bekouassa – Centre referee from Algeria
Adel Abane – First assistant referee from Algeria
Wael Hannachi – Second assistant referee from Tunisia
Houssam Benyahia – Fourth official from Algeria.
Lahlou Benbraham – Video Assistant Referee (VAR) of Algeria
Akhona Makalima – Assistant Video Assistant Referee (VAR) from South Africa
The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) kicksoff today in Dar es Salaam, with hosts Tanzania taking on Burkina Faso in the opening ceremony at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium — a clash expected to set the pace for a tournament co-hosted by regional neighbors Kenya and Uganda.
Excitement has been building across the region, and over 800 special guests are set to join thousands of fans in the stands as the Taifa Stars begin their quest for continental glory on home soil. With Group B opponents that include Madagascar, Mauritania, and the Central African Republic, Tanzania enters the tournament with arguably a more navigable group compared to Kenya and Uganda, both drawn into the so-called “groups of death.”
Head coach Hemed ‘Morocco’ Sulaiman emphasized the importance of home support and the team’s readiness heading into their opening fixture.
“We’ve had an intense buildup and are prepared to make the most of playing at home,” Sulaiman said on the eve of the match. “The energy from our fans is unmatched, and we plan to turn that into fuel for a winning start.”
The Taifa Stars will lean heavily on domestic talent from league giants Simba SC and Young Africans SC, with key names such as goalkeeper Aishi Manula, striker Clement Mzize, and playmaker Feisal “Fei Toto” Salum expected to lead the charge.
Burkina Faso, on the other hand, arrive with quiet confidence and a point to prove. Their head coach, Issa Balboné, acknowledged past shortcomings but spoke of a new, focused mindset.
“We’ve learned from previous tournaments and made necessary adjustments,” Balboné noted. “This time, we’re not just here to participate — we want to progress.”
As the ball gets rolling at CHAN 2024, all eyes will be on whether Tanzania can take full advantage of the spotlight and home advantage to make an early statement — and perhaps inspire fellow hosts Kenya and Uganda as the tournament unfolds.
