CAF will take full control over ticket pricing for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a move confirmed during a CHAN Local Organizing Committee (LoC) media briefing held in Lugogo on Monday.
With the tournament set to kick off on August 2, 2025, and co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, CAF’s directive aims to ensure that ticket prices remain affordable and fan-friendly.
The decision to centrally manage ticket pricing comes amid long-standing complaints from Ugandan football fans about the high cost of attending national team games.
In past Uganda Cranes matches, ticketing has been handled by FUFA, but for CHAN, CAF will set and guide pricing structures.
This shift is already being welcomed by stakeholders, as it promises more accessible pricing and a better in-stadium experience.
Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba, Chairman of the Communications and Signage Committee of Uganda’s CHAN LoC, stated that CAF had introduced a clear three-tier pricing model.
According to the proposal, ordinary tickets will go for just $1 (UGX 3,800), VIP tickets for $2 (UGX 7,600), and VVIP tickets for $3 (UGX 11,400).
Mugimba emphasized that these prices are intended to be inclusive, and warned that even Tier 1 tickets should not be adjusted to UGX 10,000 or more. The guiding principle, he said, is affordability.
He also clarified that the Government of Uganda is not looking to profit from gate collections during CHAN.
Instead, the focus is on creating a great fan atmosphere at the renovated Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. “We want fans to fill the stadium.”
“It looks attractive now, and the players feel the support when the stands are full,” Mugimba said.
He explained that government revenue will come from other sources, such as taxes on accommodation and hospitality services, not from ticket sales.
In contrast, Kenya is expected to set slightly higher ticket prices, with ordinary tickets likely to cost around UGX 5,500, VIP tickets UGX 13,000, and VVIP at UGX 27,700.
Still, CAF’s involvement is seen as a unifying measure to balance accessibility across all three host nations.
The 2024 CHAN tournament is not only a major footballing event but also a crucial dress rehearsal for East Africa’s joint hosting of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
With CAF in charge of key operational aspects like ticketing, logistics, and stadium standards, the region aims to showcase its readiness for even bigger continental assignments.
In Uganda, Namboole Stadium will host Group C matches and the third-place playoff, while the opening game will take place in Tanzania and the final in Kenya.
Overall, CAF’s directive to cap ticket prices at $1 for ordinary seats reflects a growing awareness of the need to make football more inclusive.
For Ugandan fans who have often been priced out of the stadium, this comes as a welcome shift.
And as preparations intensify ahead of the August kickoff, all signs point to a tournament that puts the fans first.
