The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final will take place this Saturday, August 30, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, where Morocco will face Madagascar for the continental title.
In the first semifinal played at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Morocco and Senegal drew 1-1 after extra time.
The North Africans prevailed 5-3 in the penalty shootout, knocking out the defending champions and advancing to their third CHAN final.
In Dar es Salaam, Madagascar booked their place in the final with a 1-0 win over Sudan at Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
Substitute Toky Rakotondraibe scored the decisive goal in the 116th minute, sending Madagascar into their first-ever CHAN final.
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Morocco heads into the contest as favorites, having won the tournament twice in 2018 and 2020.
Madagascar, meanwhile, have been the surprise package of the competition.
Despite going down to 10 men for nearly 40 minutes in their semifinal, they held firm and found the breakthrough late in extra time.
Fans will be able to watch the action live at Kasarani, with tickets already on sale; Regular tickets are priced at Ksh200, while Silver tickets cost Ksh500, available at chan.mookh.com.
Elsewhere, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the joint hosting of CHAN 2024 by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had been about more than just football.
In a statement, he noted that the three countries made a commitment that has since been fulfilled through stadium upgrades across the region.
"When Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania came together to pitch to CAF, it was more than a bid to host a tournament - it was a promise to reimagine African football. That promise has been honoured through immense investment in stadium renovations, from Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam and Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, breathing new life into grounds where African dreams are written," he said.
Omollo described CHAN 2024 as a celebration of both football and culture, pointing to the matchday atmosphere and fan zones that stretched into communities.
"From the fever pitch energy in the stadiums to the bustling fan zones in Baba Dogo, Githurai, Mathare and beyond; CHAN 2024 has been a competition that celebrates community, culture, and football as Africa’s unifying heartbeat. And now it is time for the coronation; a moment where all roads lead to Kasarani, and the crown of CHAN awaits its rightful owner," he added.
Omollo noted that the finalists carried more than just talent, adding that Kenya reaching the knockout stages is history in itself.
"The finalists represent the very best of Africa’s local football. Each side carries with it not just skill but also the dreams of millions - from Kampala to Dar es Salaam to Nairobi. Every goal scored, every tackle made, has been a story of resilience.
"For Kenya, reaching the knockout stages as debutants was already history written; for Uganda and Tanzania, carrying the weight of home support has lit up stadiums; and for the continental giants in the mix, the chase for the crown has been nothing short of fierce," he further said.
Omollo further credited fans for shaping the tournament, especially in Nairobi, where their energy stood out in Harambee Stars matches.
“If there has been one undeniable force behind CHAN, it has been the fans; more so in Nairobi that saw the largest attendance, and in the Harambee Stars games, they were the crucial 12th Man Army. The excitement in the fandom has been unmatchable.
"From Kasarani to Nyayo, from Baba Dogo fan zones to Githurai and Mathare, Kenyans proved that passion can be disciplined, and celebration can be orderly. The voices that filled the air were more than chants; they were a statement that Kenya is ready to host Africa, not just in the stadiums but in the very heart of our communities," he noted.
Describing the final in Nairobi as the pinnacle of the competition, Omollo noted that it will mark a defining moment for African football.
"Now, all roads lead to Kenya On the 30th of August, the continent will converge at Kasarani for the final chapter of CHAN 2024. It will be a football match marked by a coronation of discipline, unity, and African pride. From the first kickoff in Dar, Tanzania to the final whistle in Nairobi, Kenya, this has been a journey that redefined African football.
"And as the trophy is lifted under the Nairobi night sky, the legacy will be clear: CHAN 2024 has been more than a tournament - it has been Africa’s Homecoming, and Kenya is it’s crowing abbey," he concluded.