NAIROBI, Jan 14, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The African Nations Championship (CHAN), due to kick off in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in February, was postponed to August because stadiums were not ready, the organisers said Tuesday. 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said there had been "good progress" on building and upgrading facilities, but that "more time was required". 

Considered the number two tournament in Africa, CHAN is restricted to locally-based players, with 19 nations competing. 

It is seen as a precursor to the top-tier African Cup of Nations, which is due to be held in East Africa for the first time in 2027.

"I am confident that the stadiums, training fields, hotels, hospitals and other infrastructure and facilities will be at the requisite CAF standards for hosting, in August 2025, a very successful TotalEnergies African Nations Championship," CAF President Patrice Motsepe said in a statement. 

A team of CAF experts visited the three countries last month and expressed concern that the two main stadiums in Nairobi -- the Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium -- were yet to be completed, giving them until December 31 to show progress.