Home-based Eagles of Nigeria will play all their Group B matches at the 8th African Nations Championship (2025 CHAN) on the island of Zanzibar, following confirmation by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Thursday.
The tournament, scheduled to run from 2nd to 30th August 2025, will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Zanzibar, a Tanzanian archipelago off the East African coast with a population of under two million, will provide the stage for Group D — a tough pool featuring reigning champions Senegal, Congo, Sudan, and Nigeria, who were silver-medallists in 2018 and bronze-medallists in 2014.
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Photo Credit: X
CAF also confirmed that the opening match of the competition will take place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, while Kampala’s Mandela Stadium and Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, will host the third-place match and final, respectively.
Congo Reinstated After Appeal
Group B was reshuffled after Equatorial Guinea’s disqualification, with Congo reinstated following a successful appeal. The group now features four powerhouses with significant CHAN pedigree.
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Nigeria booked their place at the finals after overcoming Ghana 3–1 on aggregate in a high-profile qualifier last December.
Remo Stars Coach Daniel Ogunmodede and Enugu Rangers gaffer Fidelis IIechuckwu led Nigeria to CHAN 2025. Photo Credit: X
Full Group 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): Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, Algeria
Group D (Zanzibar): Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, Sudan
This marks Nigeria’s first competitive appearance in Zanzibar, and the island’s hosting reflects a broader CAF strategy to integrate smaller territories into major tournaments.
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The matches are expected to draw crowds from across East Africa, with strong logistical backing from the AFCON 2027 host trio.
