Kenya to face DR Congo in CHAN opener at Kasarani

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially released the match schedule for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), with Kenya set to face stiff competition in Group A.

The tournament, tailor-made for local based players, will run from August 2 to August 30, 2025, across four East African venues in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Kenya, one of the three host nations, finds itself in a competitive Group A alongside Angola, DR Congo, and Morocco.

The Harambee Stars will kick off their campaign against DR Congo on August 3 at Moi Kasarani.

Four days later, Benni McCarthy’s men will then square it out with Angola at the same venue before meeting Morocco on August 10.

Matches in Group A will be shared between Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium.

Meanwhile, regional hosts Uganda and Tanzania will be aiming to advance from their respective groups.

Uganda are placed in Group C, based in Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium, and will face Algeria, Guinea, and Niger.

Their opener is against Algeria on Sunday, August 3 at 8:00 PM, followed by matches against Guinea and Niger.

Tanzania, meanwhile, will play in Group B, hosted at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. They are drawn against Burkina Faso, Madagascar, and Mauritania.

Tanzania begins their campaign against Burkina Faso on Saturday, August 2 at 8:00 PM, before taking on Madagascar and Mauritania in what promises to be a tightly contested group.

Speculation continues to swirl around Kenya’s preparedness to host the upcoming CHAN tournament, with particular concern focused on the state of Nyayo Stadium.

The stadium appears far from ready, raising alarms among stakeholders and fans alike.

Beyond match venues, Kenya is also expected to deliver six FIFA-standard training grounds, yet details on their completion timelines remain scant.

With just over a month to go before kick-off, the lack of visible upgrades has fueled fears that Kenya may fall short of its hosting obligations unless urgent action is taken.

With all three host nations eager to impress at home, the group stage promises thrilling encounters and passionate local support as East Africa welcomes the continent's top home-based football talent.