CAF president: Next Africa’s and World Cup stars will be playing in CHAN
By Luke Oluoch, July 28, 2025CAF President Patrice Motsepe has called the upcoming edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) the stage where the next big names who will rule the continent and the globe will be made.
Speaking in an interview with FUFA on Monday, July 28, 2025, Motsepe expressed confidence that the biennial tournament for home-based players will be a successful venture.
His sentiments come barely five days before the continent’s elite football teams assemble in the three East African nations for the historic continental games set for Saturday, August 2, 2025.
Playing in CHAN
“I am excited for the games. CHAN will be enormously successful. It not only represents the best of football in the three nations but also in the entire continent,” he said.
The South African supremo also justified the decision to increase the competition prize money for the games, hailing it as a long-term investment strategy of the cradle where talents are born.
“This is part of the long-term investment of developing African football. The next most successful African players in AFCON and the World Cup are currently playing in CHAN and it’s why we increased the prize money. I am confident the match we will be seeing in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will represent the very best,” he stated.
Motsepe’s remarks mirror those of his Kenyan counterpart, Hussein Mohammed, who rallied Kenyan fans to turn up and make the upcoming edition of the 2024 CAF African Championship competition a memorable experience for the region and Africa.
In an address on Friday, June 27, 2025, after the prospect of the first-ever hosting of the major competition became more apparent, the FA boss implored the fans to rally behind the Kenyan team.
Support
“The dates are out. The stage is set. The Harambee Stars need your support. Let’s make CHAN 2024 a turning point for our team, our fans, and Kenyan football. This is our moment to rally together and give our boys the backing they deserve,” Mohammed said.
Harambee Stars, who were pooled in Group A comprising five teams, will open their campaign against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
The clash against former hosts of the competition will pave the way for a second test against Angola on Thursday, August 7, 2025.
Benni McCarthy’s charges will then face Morocco in their penultimate group tie before wrapping up the group engagement against Zambia’s Copper Bullets a week later.