CAF Honors East African Leaders for Historic CHAN Tournament Success
ARUSHA, Tanzania – November 19, 2025 – In a landmark celebration of African football and unity, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has bestowed its prestigious President’s Outstanding Achievement Award upon the leaders of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The awards were presented on Thursday to H.E. Yoweri K. Museveni of Uganda, H.E. William Ruto of Kenya, and H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania in recognition of their pivotal leadership and vision in co-hosting the most successful African Nations Championship (CHAN) to date.
The 2025 CHAN tournament, held under the unifying banner of the ‘Pamoja’ (Together) initiative, was a historic first, being the first major African football tournament to be jointly hosted by three nations. The event, which had been delayed from its original schedule, was hailed not only for its seamless organization but also for its electrifying atmosphere and sporting excellence.
A key highlight of the tournament’s success was the unprecedented achievement of all three host nations—Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania—qualifying for the quarterfinals, a feat that ignited passionate support across the region and underscored the competitive growth of East African football.
In a statement, CAF linked the tournament’s triumph to the “exceptional commitment and direct involvement” of the three presidents. The football body praised the significant investments in sporting infrastructure and security that ensured a world-class event, setting a new benchmark for future tournaments.
The success of the CHAN tournament is also seen as a promising precursor to the continent’s next major football event. The same East African partnership is slated to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). CAF officials expressed confidence that the foundational work and collaborative spirit demonstrated through the ‘Pamoja’ initiative have firmly laid the groundwork for another successful tournament.
The awards ceremony underscored the powerful role of sport in fostering pan-African collaboration and regional integration, marking a proud moment for East Africa on the continental stage.
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