East Africa's football greats to conduct CHAN 2024 draw

The upcoming TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 finals draw is generating excitement as three football icons from the co-hosting nations of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will be part of the ceremony.

Uganda's Hassan Wasswa, Tanzania's Mrisho Ngasa, and Kenya's McDonald Mariga will conduct the draw at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday.

The tournament itself is set to take place from February 1-28, 2024, marking the eighth edition of this prestigious competition.

A total of 19 nations, including hosts Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and defending champions Senegal, will participate in the draw to determine the official schedule for the CHAN finals.

The trio—Wasswa, Ngasa, and Mariga have made significant contributions to the development of African football.

Wasswa, a veteran of the Ugandan national team, has had a career spanning over a decade. He earned 75 caps for the Cranes and enjoyed stints in Turkey and Saudi Arabia before retiring in 2021. His influence and dedication to Ugandan football are widely recognized.

Tanzania's Ngasa is widely regarded as one of the finest players to emerge from the country.

With a century of international appearances, Ngasa is the second-most-capped Tanzanian player of all time and the nation's leading scorer with 25 goals.

His illustrious career, which began in 2005, saw him play for some of Tanzania's biggest clubs, including Simba, Young Africans, and Azam FC.

Ngasa also enjoyed a successful international career beyond Tanzanian borders.

He played in South Africa for Free State Stars before moving to Oman to join Fanja. He later retired with Ndanda Sports Club in Tanzania, leaving a lasting legacy in the country's football history.

His achievements and contributions to the sport have made him a key figure in East African football.

Mariga, who currently serves as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president, had a stellar career that included remarkable achievements, such as winning a UEFA Champions League title with Inter Milan.

In addition to the Champions League, he also lifted the Serie A trophy and won two Coppa Italia titles.

Mariga was part of the Inter Milan squad that triumphed in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010.

A trailblazer in Kenyan football, Mariga became the first Kenyan to play in the UEFA Champions League. His career took him to top clubs in Sweden and Spain, further establishing his legacy as one of the country's finest footballers.

He earned 40 caps for the Kenya national team, scoring five goals, and is the older brother of fellow Kenyan football icon, Victor Wanyama. Mariga's contribution to both club and national football has solidified his place as one of Kenya's greatest players.