Mandela National Stadium to host CHAN 2024 third-place playoff

Uganda’s Mandela National Stadium in Kampala has been selected to host the third-place playoff of the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), marking a significant return to the international spotlight for the iconic venue.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the venues for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from August 2 to 30, 2024.

“The Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda has been designated to host the third and fourth place match of the event,” CAF announced in an official statement.

This development is a major milestone for Uganda, as Mandela National Stadium—commonly known as Namboole—has recently undergone extensive renovations after years of inactivity due to its deteriorated condition. The upgrades have brought the stadium up to international standards, earning CAF’s confidence to host a key fixture.

The third-place playoff is traditionally a high-stakes, entertaining match, offering local fans a chance to witness some of Africa’s finest homegrown talent in action.

The tournament will kick off on August 2 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, while the final will be held on August 30 at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

Group stage matches will be spread across four cities: Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala-Wakiso, and Zanzibar. Notably, Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium—fresh from hosting the CAF Confederation Cup Final in May 2025—will also serve as a tournament venue.

Group Stage Breakdown:

Group A (Nairobi): Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
Group B (Dar es Salaam): Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
Group C (Kampala-Wakiso): Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, Algeria
Group D (Zanzibar): Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Sudan, Nigeria