IT is now official that the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) zone will receive an additional slot for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

This development increases the total number of qualifying teams from the CECAFA region to 19, a decision made by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This expansion is partly due to the automatic qualification granted to the three host nations from the CECAFA zone - Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. 

The tournament, scheduled to take place between February 1 and 28, 2025, will see these three nations enter directly as hosts.

CAF's decision to allocate an additional slot ensures that the CECAFA region will have ample representation in the final tournament. 

In addition to the host nations, the team achieving the best result in the CECAFA qualifiers will also advance to the final championship.

The CHAN qualifiers will officially begin during the weekend of October 25-27, and November 1-3, 2024. The second round will take place between December 20-22 and December 25-27, 2024.

CAF’s online portal stated: “In addition to the automatic qualification as hosts, the team achieving the best result in the CECAFA Qualifiers will also advance to the final tournament." 

Other regional qualifying zones, including WAFU A, WAFU B, UNAF, UNIFFAC, and COSAFA, will each contribute three teams to the tournament.

CAF is expected to confirm host stadiums and training venues in due course. However, early indications suggest that Kenya's Kasarani Annex, Police Sacco Stadium, and Ulinzi Sports Complex are being considered as potential training venues, with Nyayo Stadium likely to host group stage matches.

In Uganda, the Nelson Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) has been proposed as a primary venue, while Tanzania will utilize the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Last year, CAF significantly increased the prize money for the CHAN finals in Algeria, which was won by Senegal. 

The prize money for the winning team was raised by 60 percent, with Senegal pocketing $2 million (Tsh 5.46 billion), compared to the $1.25 million (Tsh 3.41 billion) awarded in previous editions.

With the 2025 edition fast approaching, the CECAFA zone is gearing up for a highly competitive and exciting tournament as the host nations look to showcase their talents on home soil.