Seven key lessons from CHAN 2024 ahead of hosting AFCON 2027
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Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 01.09.25. | 08:48
With the three CHAN host nations also set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Mozzart Sport explores seven key lessons from CHAN and how they might impact the AFCON
The curtains fell on the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Saturday, 30 August, and with plenty of lessons for stakeholders, including Kenya.
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The biennial continental tourney, which was co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, began on Saturday, 2 August, with a total of 19 teams competing, but eventually, Morocco won the title.
The North African nation edged Madagascar 3-2 despite going down earlier in the first half to claim what is their third CHAN title, while Madagascar posted an improvement from the third-place finish in the previous edition.
With the three CHAN host nations also set to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Mozzart Sport explores seven key lessons from CHAN and how they might impact the AFCON.
Ticketing hitches
In a tournament that has largely been successful, ticketing has been one of the few concerns, especially in matches involving Kenya.
While the majority of fans want to buy tickets and watch the match, the tickets were cumbersome to purchase from the service provider, who, by their own admission, said bots bought more tickets than the real fans.
The tickets were thereafter sold outside the gates at exorbitant prices, while some fans were unfortunate enough to buy fake tickets.
Going to AFCON, the online ticketing firm handling the exercise must have impenetrable systems and seal loopholes that saw some individuals flex ticket booklets as fans decried ticket unavailability.
Fan Zones are important
One thing that came out clearly from the CHAN tournament is that no stadium in the country currently has the capacity to accommodate Harambee Stars fans.
In fact, not even the yet-to-be-completed Talanta Sports City can handle the Kenyan crowd wishing to watch Harambee Stars.
This fact implies that fan zones will be inevitable at AFCON, which is expected to attract even larger crowds due to the availability of foreign-based stars.
Instead of making it an afterthought or reacting after a fine and CAF advisory, multiple fan zones must be established across Nairobi and other towns, and they must be made known to people before the tournament starts.
No underdogs at the top level
The 2024 CHAN once again demonstrated that there are no underdogs at the top-level tournaments.
Approaching every match with the seriousness and focus it deserves will always count at that level. Throughout the tournament, underdogs upset favourites, with some exiting the tourney at the group stage.
Kenya, for instance, finished on top of Group A despite being the underdogs in the group. Finalists Madagascar only qualified for the knockout on account of goals scored, but on another day, they could have won the championship.
Kenyans' love for football
Throughout the tournament, Kenyans proved their love not just for Harambee Stars, but football in general.
Of the three host countries, it is only Kenya whose matches were sold out. In fact, the matches were being sold out, a few hours after tickets were put on sale.
More interestingly, Kenyans even took time to attend matches that did not involve Harambee Stars and did so in their thousands.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe noted Kenyans' enthusiasm and love for the game after the final match between Morocco and Madagascar was sold out two days before the match.
CAF’s attention to detail
With the 2024 CHAN being the first major tournament that the three host nations, and in this case, Kenya, were hosting in over four decades, there was a lot to learn in terms of the general organisation of the championship.
One thing that was clear was CAF’s attention to detail in planning and executing the tournament, as well as the regulations that are to be followed.
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At some point, Kenya had to learn the hard way through the imposition of fines and a cap on fans’ attendance.
Rise of African coaches
One of the most encouraging statistics in the tournament was that there were only three coaches coming from outside the continent during CHAN.
Of the 19 tacticians in charge of various teams, 16 were from Africa. Only Avram Grant for Zambia, Soares Gonçalves for Angola and Aritz Lopez for Mauritania were non-Africans.
Interestingly, all three teams coached by the non-African tacticians were eliminated at the group stage.
The belief in African coaches points to the growing ability and technicality of African coaches.
Media Partnership
The 2024 CHAN was publicised in all media channels, from mainstream to digital and social media. From X (formerly Twitter) to TikTok, it was all about CHAN.
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Part of the reason is that CAF deliberately decided to make the media an important partner. From timely accreditations to a fully functional media tribune, the organisation was top-notch.
On every match day and press conference, there were buses set aside for the media and meals provided prior to matches.
With a conducive working environment, the media seamlessly sold the tournament and ensured it was in the minds of each and every person.
