The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024, co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, proved to be a significant tournament, highlighting emerging talents, intense competition, and crucial lessons for future continental events. The championship saw remarkable campaigns from various nations, with Kenya making a historic debut, Uganda aiming to break long-standing barriers, and Morocco ultimately claiming their third title.

Uganda, participating in their record seventh consecutive CHAN finals, began their campaign with a high-stakes Group C opener against strong contenders Algeria at the Mandela National Stadium. Head coach Morley Byekwaso emphasized drawing strength from the passionate home support, stating the team's determination not to disappoint their fans. Despite a history of never progressing beyond the group stage since 2011 and a challenging record in opening matches, captain Allan Okello expressed confidence in the team's readiness. Key local talents such as 18-year-old winger Travis Mutyaba and experienced centre-back Gift Fred, along with former national team goalkeeper Dennis Onyango joining the coaching staff, were expected to lead the Cranes. Algeria, on the other hand, arrived as clear contenders, building on their CHAN 2022 final appearance where they conceded no goals. Coach Madjid Bougherra's squad, featuring top scorer Aimen Mahious and influential captain Zineddine Belaïd, focused on organization and tactical discipline, aiming to dominate from the outset. This match marked their second CHAN encounter, with Algeria having secured a 2-0 victory in their 2011 debut clash. The tactical outlook suggested a cagey opener, with Uganda adopting a compact shape to exploit transitions and Algeria controlling tempo and possession, making set-pieces and mental composure critical factors.

Kenya marked their long-awaited debut at CHAN PAMOJA 2024 with a statement 1-0 victory over two-time champions DR Congo at a sold-out Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi. Austin Odhiambo's left-footed strike in the 45+2 minute, assisted by David Sakwa, proved decisive. After an early scare with a disallowed goal for DR Congo following a VAR review, Kenya settled into the match, buoyed by vocal support from 60,000 fans. Despite early possession dominance by DR Congo, Kenya's disciplined defence, led by goalkeeper Byrne Omondi's crucial saves and defenders Sylvester Owino and Alphonce Omija, held firm. Coach Benni McCarthy's tactical substitutions in the second half helped shore up the midfield, securing a memorable first-ever CHAN victory for Kenya, making them only the third debutant nation to win their opening match. Following this, 10-man Harambee Stars stunned Africa’s top-ranked football nation Morocco with another 1-0 victory at Kasarani Stadium. Ryan Ogam scored the winning goal in the 42nd minute, despite Crispine Erambo being shown a red card after a VAR review at the stroke of half-time. This win, Kenya's first against Morocco in five previous meetings, secured their place in the quarterfinals and extended their lead at the top of Group A to seven points, showcasing incredible resilience and character.

Morocco ultimately lifted the 2024 CHAN trophy, triumphing 3-2 over Madagascar in a pulsating final held at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Oussama Lamlioui was the star of the show, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, including a decisive brace in the final. Lamlioui's consistency and knack for scoring in crucial moments, honed through his experience with RS Berkane, proved pivotal to Morocco’s successful campaign under coach Tarik Sektioui. His impressive performance saw him surpass South Africa’s Thabiso Kutumela, Uganda’s Allan Okello, and Algeria’s Soufiane Bayazid, each of whom scored three goals. Lamlioui's achievement continued Morocco's proud tradition of producing Golden Boot winners in CHAN, following stars like Soufiane Rahimi (2020) and Ayoub El Kaabi (2018), further cementing Morocco’s dominance on the African stage.

The CHAN PAMOJA 2024 tournament served as Kenya’s biggest test ahead of co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Uganda and Tanzania. While the tournament showcased thrilling football and unmistakable passion, particularly evident in the full stadiums in Kenya, it also exposed crucial gaps that the nation must address, especially concerning infrastructure, ticketing, security, and communication. The relocation of Group D to Zanzibar’s New Amaan Stadium due to facility readiness and training-ground shortfalls on the Kenyan side served as a significant wake-up call, emphasizing the need for all facilities, including training pitches, lighting, dressing rooms, media workspaces, and VAR infrastructure, to meet standards well in advance. Currently, the government is fast-tracking the construction of the 60,000-capacity Talanta Sports Stadium, a flagship venue for AFCON 2027, which FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe toured during their visit to Kenya. Issues like crowd congestion, chaotic entries at Kasarani, and public condemnation from CAF regarding security breaches led to fines and temporary attendance restrictions, highlighting the need for robust security protocols. Ticketing also posed problems, with allegations of bulk purchasing for hawking and the emergence of fake online platforms. Ahead of AFCON 2027, a secure, official e-ticketing platform with named tickets and dynamic QR codes is essential.

Further demonstrating Kenya's commitment to football development, President William Ruto officially handed over the title deeds for land earmarked for the Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) new national technical centre to FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his first official visit to Kenya since 2016. Supported by FIFA Forward funding, the USD 4.6 million facility, to be constructed in Machakos County, will include one natural grass pitch, two artificial turf pitches, an administration block, and modern conference facilities. Infantino hailed it as both a hub for current national teams and a beacon of hope for future Kenyan footballers. With the land secured for this technical centre and new stadium infrastructure nearing completion, Kenya is taking historic steps toward reshaping its football future, building on the success and lessons learned from co-hosting CHAN PAMOJA 2024.