Bus ferrying fans to 2024 CHAN opening ceremony engulfed by fire

In what could have been a tragic prelude to the much-anticipated 2024 CHAN opener, a bus ferrying football fans to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the tournament's opening ceremony caught fire en route, but fortunately, all passengers, 45 in number, miraculously escaped unscathed.

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The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, 31 July, just a day before the curtain-raising match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), set to take place at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

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The ill-fated bus, reportedly operated by the Teachers Association of Misungwi District in Mwanza Region, was transporting a group of enthusiastic fans to the Tanzanian coastal city when it caught fire in Bushini area, Malenve ward, within Kwimba District.

According to eyewitness reports shared by local travel outfit Adventure 360 on X (formerly Twitter), the bus burst into flames mid-journey, sparking panic among the passengers.

Swift action by the driver is credited with averting disaster, as he promptly pulled over and managed to evacuate everyone onboard before the fire engulfed the vehicle.

“There were no fatalities or injuries reported in the incident. The Police Force thanks the citizens who responded swiftly and helped save lives before police and firefighters arrived,” Mwanza Regional Police Commander DCP Wilbrod Mutafungwa confirmed during a press briefing with The Guardian TZ.

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The 2024 CHAN championship, themed the Pamoja Edition, officially kicks off on Saturday, 2 August, with hosts Tanzania facing Burkina Faso in the opening match.

The tournament, which features exclusively home-based players from across Africa, will culminate on Saturday, 30 August, with the grand finale set for Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, where the winner of the match will walk home with USD3.5 million (approximately Ksh455 million).

The month-long 2024 edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.