AFCON for Locals Postponed Due to Unprepared Facilities

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday the postponement of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN), just weeks before it was scheduled to begin in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The tournament, featuring 19 teams of players who only participate in domestic leagues across the continent, was set to kick off on February 1st, but will now be held in August because the facilities are not ready.

The three East African countries are set to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and the local tournament was intended as a preparatory event.

CAF stated in a press release on Tuesday: “Significant progress has been made in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda with the construction and renovation of stadiums, training grounds, hotels, hospitals, and other infrastructure needed to host a successful CHAN. However, CAF’s infrastructure and technical experts have indicated that more time is required to ensure that the infrastructure and facilities meet the necessary standards to host a successful CHAN.”

The delay comes just weeks after CAF President Patrice Motsepe visited Kenya to meet with the country’s President William Ruto, in an attempt to speed up the process.

CAF added that it will proceed with the tournament draw scheduled for Wednesday in Nairobi, and that the new dates for the tournament in August will be announced “in due course.”

CAF launched the Africa Nations Championship in 2007 to provide more opportunities for local players in light of the growing number of foreign-based players in African national teams.

The tournament, which has held seven editions, has not attracted much attention over the years, and CAF has recently considered canceling it.

Some major African nations, including Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Tunisia, did not participate in the qualifiers, which concluded last month.