The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the three distinguished guests who will participate in the upcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) draw.
The event will take place on Wednesday, 15 January, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, at 20:00 local time (17:00 GMT / 19:00 Cairo time).
The three selected figures—Uganda’s Hassan Wasswa, Mrisho Ngasa of Tanzania, and Kenya’s McDonald Mariga, hail from the three nations co-hosting the continental tournament, which is scheduled to kick off on 1st February and run through 28th February 2025.
Seventeen teams have already been confirmed for the draw, including the host nations Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Two additional countries will join later, bringing the total number of participants to 19.
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Key details about the 3 legends
The draw will be conducted by three football legends whose contributions to the growth of African football are widely celebrated.
Mariga, a revered figure in Kenyan football, is currently the Deputy President of the Football Kenya Federation.
His illustrious European career includes winning the UEFA Champions League title with Inter Milan, along with the Serie A championship and two Coppa Italia trophies.
He also claimed the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010.
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The former defensive midfielder was the first Kenyan to feature in the UEFA Champions League and represented clubs in Sweden and Spain. On the international stage, he earned 40 caps and scored five goals for the Kenyan national team.
Tanzania’s Mrisho Ngasa is another celebrated player, known for his standout transfer from Yanga to Azam in 2010, which was a landmark deal valued at $40,000.
Ngasa is the second most-capped Tanzanian player of all time, with 25 goals to his name.
Beyond Tanzania, the former striker also played for Free State Stars in South Africa and Fanja in Oman before retiring with Tanzania’s Ndanda Sports Club.
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Meanwhile, Wasswa is also a prominent figure in Ugandan football. He represented the Uganda Cranes for over a decade, earning 75 caps and establishing himself as a key player.
The defensive midfielder had an extensive career in Turkey and Saudi Arabia before retiring in 2021.
CHAN 2024 qualified teams
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda (all co-hosts), Morocco, Guinea, Senegal, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Sudan, Zambia, Angola, and Madagascar. Two more teams will be confirmed for the finals.
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