Hosts Tanzania on Saturday made a bright start to their Group “B” campaign at the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan), defeating Burkina Faso 2-0.
The match took place at the 60,000-seater Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania are hosting the 19-nation, biennial tournament with Uganda and Tanzania.
The clash between Tanzania’s “Taifa Stars” and “The Stallions” of Burkina Faso was preceded by a flurry of entertainment, which was headlined by a live performance by Bongo Flava sensation, Rayvanny.
Madagascar, Mauritania and debutants Central African Republic are the other teams in Group “B”.
Tanzania, coached by Hemed “Morocco” Suleiman, are making their third appearance in Chan after competing in the 2009 and 2020 editions held in Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, respectively.
Tanzania's Shomari Kapombe and Abdul Hamisi Suleiman celebrate their team's first goal against Burkina Faso in the opening match of the 2025 African Nations Championship on August 2, 2025 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania won 2-0.
On the other hand, Burkina Faso are participating for the fourth time after taking part in the 2014, 2018 and 2020 editions.
In the opening Group “B”, Tanzania's “Taifa Stars” took the lead in the added third minute of the first-half through Abdul Suleiman “Sopu” from the spot. Centre referee, Lofti Bekouassa from Algeria, awarded the penalty after ruling that Taifa Stars’ forward Clement Mzize had been fouled inside the box.
Cheered by thousands of enthusiastic fans, the hosts added the second goal late in the 71st minute of the match through Mohamed Hussein. The win marks a bright start for Tanzania’s quest to win their maiden Chan title. They will next face Mauritania on Wednesday at the same venue from 8pm East African Time.
Earlier that day, Burkina Faso will be seeking to make amends when they face Central African Republic. The match will kick-off at 5pm. Only the top two teams in the four pools will progress to the quarter-finals stage.
On Sunday, hosts Kenya will open their Group “A” campaign against 2009 and 2016 champions, the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi. The sold-out match will kick-off at 3pm. At the 18,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium, 2018 and 2020 winners will face Angola from 6pm in the other Group “A” match.
