The African Nations Championship (CHAN) may not command the global spotlight like the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), but it remains a cornerstone of African football.
Designed to showcase homegrown talent, CHAN has over the years grown into a competitive tournament that gives local-based players a chance to shine on the continental stage.
Since its inception in 2009, the tournament has not only provided a platform for rising stars but also served as a celebration of national leagues and local football culture across the continent.
The CHAN tournament was established by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2007 and held for the first time in 2009.
Its unique structure allows only players who ply their trade in their home country’s domestic league to participate.
Ivory Coast hosted the inaugural edition in 2009 with a total of 8 teams participating.
CAF selected it to host the edition during their January 2008 executive meeting, choosing them over other contenders like Sudan and Egypt.
It was held from February 22 to March 8, 2009 in two cities-Abidjan and Bouaké, with matches played at the Stade Félix Houphouët‑Boigny in Abidjan and Stade Bouaké.
Ivory Coast, however, failed to advance from Group A.
They finished bottom with just one point (draw) and two losses, including a 0–3 loss to Zambia and 0–1 to Tanzania.
DR Congo emerged as the maiden champions after defeating Ghana 2–0 in the final.
Since then, the tournament has rotated across several African nations.
2011 – Sudan: The second edition saw an expansion from 8 to 16 teams.
Tunisia clinched the title by thrashing Angola 3–0 in the final.
2014 – South Africa: Libya lifted their first major continental title after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Ghana.
2016 – Rwanda: DR Congo became the first nation to win CHAN twice, defeating Mali 3–0 in the final.
2018 – Morocco: As hosts, Morocco won their first CHAN title, defeating Nigeria 4–0 in a dominant final display.
2020 (played in 2021) – Cameroon: Despite Covid-19 challenges, Cameroon successfully hosted the event.
Morocco retained their title with a 2–0 win over Mali.
2022 (played in 2023) – Algeria: Algeria hosted the most recent edition, which saw Senegal lift the trophy after beating Algeria on penalties in the final, marking their first CHAN victory.
The 2024 edition is being co-hosted for the first time, by three nations- Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
It officially begins August 2–30.
It was initially set to take place from February 1 to 28, 2025, but was subsequently postponed due to infrastructure delays.
Speaking during a past event, CAF President Patrice Motsepe highlighted the region’s infrastructure improvements and pledged that this would be the most successful CHAN ever.
He emphasised its role as a pathway for players and as a foundation for AFCON 2027.
A total of 19 national sides will participate, including the three host nations and qualifiers from across CAF’s six regions.
In January, CAF unveiled the new logo and trophy for this year’s CHAN.
The federation said the new trophy stands as a powerful symbol of African football’s ongoing progress and shared passion for the game.
The new look comes just hours before the final draw of the games is conducted in Nairobi on Wednesday night from 8 pm.
In a statement, CAF said the changes bring a fresh identity and emphasises the tournament’s deep-rooted connections to African football and culture.
“It comes with a new TotalEnergies CHAN trophy that features a sleek, contemporary design, combining gold and silver elements, representing the prestige and growing stature of the tournament,” CAF said.
Among the new features of the trophy are 54 distinct lines encircling the trophy, a significant detail CAF says symbolizes the 54 African nations united with a map of the continent at its core.
“This element underscores the championship’s celebration of diversity and unity across the continent. Each line represents the foundation of African football, a pathway carved by our passion and skill, a tribute to our players and our dreams,” the federation said.
