President William Ruto has called on Kenyans to show up in full force and cheer on Harambee Stars as the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) kicks off this weekend, with Kenya co-hosting the tournament alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
Speaking from inside the pitch at Kasarani Stadium, Ruto shared a selfie video urging fans to be part of what he described as the continent’s biggest football celebration.
“Kenyans, are you ready for the biggest football celebration in Africa? We are hosting Chan 2024. We've got passion, we've got the players, now we need the 12th man - you! Kuja na mbogi, ama niaje. Harambee Stars all the way.”
The President had earlier met the national team in Upper Hill before making his way to the stadium, where he reinforced his call for fan support and national pride. He said the government had invested heavily in infrastructure and preparation, and now it was time for Kenyans to deliver the atmosphere and energy.
Kenya will play its first match on Sunday at 3 pm against the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same venue. The team is in Group A alongside Zambia, Morocco, and Angola. The tournament opener, however, will see Tanzania face Burkina Faso on Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Ruto sweetened the deal for players by announcing a hefty cash reward should they triumph in the tournament. Winning the championship will earn the team Sh600 million, while reaching the semifinals will attract Sh70 million. A quarterfinal spot comes with Sh60 million.
Additionally, each player is set to receive Sh1 million for every win and Sh500,000 for each draw during the competition.
Ahead of the much-anticipated Sunday match, the Football Kenya Federation has asked fans to arrive early to avoid delays. Some roads have been closed as part of preparations, and fans are advised to plan their travel in advance to avoid the expected congestion on alternative routes.
In a better deal, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has significantly increased the prize money for the 2024 CHAN.
As the historic competition kicks off across East Africa, CAF announced that the total prize pool has been raised to a record KSh 1.34 billion (USD 10.4 million). This marks a substantial 32 percent increase in total prize money from the previous edition.
The winner of CHAN 2024 will now take home KSh 448 million (USD 3.5 million), a significant 75 percent increase compared to what the champions received previously. The runners-up will walk away with KSh 153 million (USD 1.2 million), while the team finishing third will receive KSh 89.6 million (USD 700,000). Fourth place will earn KSh 76.8 million (USD 600,000).
This year's edition of CHAN will be unlike any other in the tournament’s history, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda jointly hosting the event for the first time. The competition will begin on Saturday, 2 August 2025, at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, with the final set for Saturday, 30 August 2025, at Moi International Stadium.
A total of 19 teams will take part, including defending champions Senegal, record winners Morocco and DR Congo, and other continental giants such as Algeria, Nigeria, Guinea, and Zambia.
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe hailed the increased prize money as a game-changing move that will elevate the tournament's importance and support the development of players competing in their domestic leagues.
“We are excited about the upcoming CHAN in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This increase in prize money will support the development of locally based players and help strengthen the global competitiveness of African football,” he said.
He further emphasised that CHAN is not just a competition, but a key pillar in CAF’s long-term vision to make African football more attractive to global broadcasters, sponsors, and fans.
Notably, CHAN 2024 has gone fully digital in its ticketing process, with no physical tickets being issued. However, ticket pricing will vary across the three host nations.
In Tanzania, CHAN tickets will be the most affordable among the three hosts, with regular entry priced as low as TSh2,000 (approximately KSh100). VIP B tickets will retail at TSh5,000 (approximately KSh250), while VIP A seats will cost up to TSh10,000 (approximately KSh500).
In Uganda, regular tickets have been set at USD 1 (approximately KSh129 or UGX 3,586), with VIP tickets going for USD 2 (approximately KSh258 or UGX 7,052). A VVIP experience will be available for just USD 3 (approximately KSh387 or UGX 10,578).
In Kenya for a fan to enjoy these tournaments, he or she will have to pay Ksh 200 for a regular ticket, Ksh 500 for a VIP experience and Ksh 1000 for a VVIP experience.
The East African host countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have both introduced a special travel pass to speed up entry and exit for fans travelling between the countries for the games. Most regional travellers will not need a visa, and even some from Caribbean nations will be facilitated.
