Kenya lands heavyweights Morocco, DR Congo in CHAN draw

Harambee Stars have landed in the group of death of the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) set to take place in August 2025, following the draw that was conducted Wednesday evening at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

Kenya will debut the competition, which is for domestic-based players, in group A that has Morocco and DR Congo-two of the most successful teams in CHAN. The tricky group also has in-form Angola and Zambia.

DR Congo and Morocco lead with most titles of the championship with two crowns each while Senegal, the reigning champions, won their first CHAN title in 2022.

Senegal will launch their title defence in group D that has Congo, Sudan and Nigeria.

Other co-hosts Tanzania are in pool B alongside Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Central African Republic.

Uganda will face Niger, Guinea and two other opponents in group C, who will be known after the completion of the qualifying phase.

The draw was conducted by the CAF Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu, assisted by East Africa football legends; Kenya’s McDonald Mariga, Mrisho Ngasa of Tanzania, and Uganda’s Hassan Wasswa.

CAF on Tuesday postponed the tourney until August - just 18 days before the tournament was due to kick off in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The continental football governing body said its experts had advised that "more time is required" to ensure the infrastructure and facilities for the finals are "at the levels necessary".

The 2024 CHAN was set to take place between 1 and 28 February, with some countries having already announced their squads and begun training camps.

Full draw

Group A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia

Group B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic

Group D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria,