The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially cleared Mandela National Stadium, Namboole to host matches during the upcoming 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), marking a major milestone for Ugandan and East African football.
The announcement follows a final inspection conducted on Thursday, July 9, part of an eight-day evaluation tour of all CHAN 2025 venues across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. CAF’s delegation of experts assessed infrastructure, media and broadcast capabilities, safety, and stadium readiness in each host country.
Set to run from August 2 to 30, 2025, the tournament will see East Africa welcome top national teams from across the continent in what CAF has described as a spectacular celebration of African football.
Uganda’s Namboole Stadium now joins a lineup of approved host venues, including:
Moi International Sports Centre
Kasarani Stadium (Kenya) set to host the final
Nyayo International Stadium (Kenya)
Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar (Tanzania)
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) which will stage the opening ceremony
CAF’s inspection team featured key heads of department from Competitions, Marketing, Broadcast, Media, Safety & Security, and Infrastructure, working closely with the Local Organising Committees (LOCs) of each country.
CAF hailed the successful completion of inspections as a testament to the region’s growing capacity to stage world-class sporting events. In a statement, the football governing body commended the governments of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania for their dedication and support.
“The collective readiness reflects the growing excitement across East Africa. This is a significant step forward in delivering a successful and historic CHAN tournament,” CAF stated.
With preparations now in high gear, East African fans and football stakeholders are gearing up for what promises to be a landmark moment in regional football history, one that not only boosts sporting pride but also cements the region’s status as a viable hub for future international competitions.
