Tanzania to host Kenya, Uganda, Congo in Cecafa Chan warm-up
What you need to know:
- Organized under the Cecafa umbrella, the mini-tournament is aimed at offering vital match fitness, tactical experimentation, and final player assessments for the home-based national squads of the participating countries.
Dar es Salaam. Football fever is set to grip Karatu as Tanzania hosts a four-nation CECAFA Pre-Chan tournament from July 21 to 2 at Karatu Stadium in Arusha region.
The tournament, to be staged at the iconic Karatu Stadium, will feature four strong regional teams — Tanzania (Taifa Stars), Kenya (Harambee Stars), Uganda (Cranes), and Congo Brazzaville.
This preparatory tournament comes just days before the much-anticipated 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, which will officially kick off in early August with Tanzania as one of the host countries.
Organized under the Cecafa umbrella, the mini-tournament is aimed at offering vital match fitness, tactical experimentation, and final player assessments for the home-based national squads of the participating countries.
The action will begin on Sunday, July 21, with a thrilling double-header. At 1pm East African arch-rivals Kenya and Uganda will face off in what is expected to be an intense encounter filled with national pride. Later, at 4pm, hosts Tanzania will battle it out against Congo Brazzaville in a match anticipated to be fiercely competitive.
The second round of fixtures will take place on Wednesday, July 24. At 1pm, Congo Brazzaville will meet Uganda, followed by a much-anticipated showdown between Tanzania and Kenya at 4pm.
These matches will be crucial in determining the tournament standings and will also allow coaches to make final tactical and squad decisions ahead of the Chan finals.
The mini-tournament will conclude on Saturday, July 27, with yet another exciting double-header. At 1pm, Kenya will lock horns with Congo Brazzaville, before Uganda squares off against hosts Tanzania at 4pm in the tournament’s final match.
Fans can expect a competitive and entertaining display of football, with players eager to secure spots in their respective final squads.
The tournament is also expected to enhance regional unity and provide an excellent warm-up ahead of the continental showpiece.
For Tanzania’s head coach, this tournament serves as the ideal platform to finalize his 23-man squad before the Chan finals kick off. Currently, Taifa Stars are in Ismailia, Egypt, where they are holding a training camp in preparation for the competition.
Tanzania will play its opening Chan match on August 2 against Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. The game will also serve as the tournament’s grand opening ceremony, with top football dignitaries from across Africa expected to attend.
Besides the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, other venues for the Chan finals include Zanzibar’s New Amaan Complex (Group D), Kenya’s Nyayo National Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre, as well as Uganda’s Mandela National Stadium (Group A).
