Latest news with #CHAN-bound
CAF
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Serhou Guirassy's surprise visit fires up CHAN-bound Guinea
Guinea international star Serhou Guirassy has boosted the morale of the Syli Local squad with a passionate visit to their training base in Kindia, just days before the team departed for Morocco to continue preparations for the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The Borussia Dortmund striker, fresh off a spectacular season in which he scored 44 goals, made the stop as part of a broader humanitarian mission in his native country to launch his charity initiative. However, football was clearly at the heart of his agenda as he spent time encouraging the CHAN-bound squad. Guirassy, who also played a starring role for Dortmund during the recent Club World Cup in the United States, urged the locally-based players to seize the opportunity that CHAN offers and give their all to represent the nation proudly on the continental stage. 'Stay focused and give everything on the pitch,' Guirassy told the players. 'This is a huge chance to show what Guinea is made of. Fight with pride and make the nation proud.' The visit was warmly received by the Guinean Football Federation (FGF), with Mr. Mamadou Barry, FGF Vice-President, leading a delegation that welcomed Guirassy and his team. Also present were Mohamed Lamine Nabé and Hassimiou Barry, both members of the Executive Committee, who expressed their appreciation for the striker's show of solidarity. "On behalf of the Executive Committee, we thank Serhou Guirassy for this symbolic visit,' said Ibrahima Blasco Barry. 'It's a powerful gesture that means a lot to the players and the federation.' The Syli Local team, led by head coach Souleymane Camara, departed for Morocco shortly after the visit, where they will hold a six-day training camp from 13 to 19 July at the next phase of their CHAN preparations. The camp will focus on tactical refinements and cohesion before the team travels to Douala, Cameroon, for a mini-tournament. While in Cameroon, Guinea will face two fellow CHAN participants—Burkina Faso on 24 July and the Central African Republic on 28 July—in matches designed to simulate the high-pressure environment of the tournament. Both games will be played behind closed doors. Guinea have been drawn into a tough Group C featuring Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Niger, making every preparatory detail vital. Having reached the semi-finals in 2016 and 2020, Camara's side is aiming for a historic breakthrough at CHAN 2024, which kicks off 2 August and runs until 30 August, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Guirassy's visit is expected to leave a lasting impact on the squad, many of whom look up to the Bundesliga star as a symbol of what is possible through hard work, focus, and love for country.
CAF
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Guinea line-up Burkina Faso, CAR friendlies ahead of CHAN
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2025 Guinea have lined up two high-profile friendly matches against Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic (CAR) as part of their final preparations for the upcoming TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024. The Syli Local are scheduled to face fellow CHAN-bound nations in Douala, Cameroon, in what will be their final competitive tests before the tournament kicks off on 2 August in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The Guinean Football Federation (FGF) confirmed that the matches will take place behind closed doors, with the first friendly scheduled against Burkina Faso on 24 July, followed by a second fixture against the Central African Republic on 28 July. The two opponents represent a serious test for coach Souleymane Camara's side, with both teams also eyeing strong runs at CHAN 2024. Burkina Faso have emerged as one of the rising forces in West African football, while the Central African Republic are determined to impress in their return to the competition. 'These matches are more than just friendlies – they are a benchmark to test our progress and readiness for the tournament,' said head coach Camara. 'We expect two competitive games that will give us the clearest picture yet of our strengths and the areas we still need to improve.' The warm-up games come at the tail end of Guinea's second phase of preparation, following a six-day intensive camp in Morocco that runs from 13 to 19 July. The team arrived in North Africa to focus on tactical drills and build team chemistry before flying to Cameroon for the friendlies. Guinea will be making their fourth appearance at CHAN and have set their sights on a historic final after reaching the semi-finals in 2016 and 2020. They are drawn into a challenging Group C alongside Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, and Niger – a pool that offers no easy fixtures. Camara has placed a strong emphasis on discipline and mental strength throughout the team's buildup, and the two friendlies are expected to play a critical role in finalising his squad selection and preferred starting XI. The CHAN 2024 tournament features national teams made up exclusively of players who play in their domestic leagues, offering a platform to showcase local talent on the continental stage.
CAF
09-07-2025
- Sport
- CAF
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda & Sudan line up pre-CHAN four-nation tournament
Published: Wednesday, 09 July 2025 Four CHAN-bound East African teams are set to collide in a high-stakes warm-up tournament in Arusha, Tanzania, as final preparations for the 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) enter the home stretch. Regional heavyweights Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and hosts Tanzania will lock horns in the CECAFA Four Nations Cup from July 24–27, offering coaches one last competitive dress rehearsal before the continent's top home-based talents clash at CHAN. The mini-tournament will be staged at the Karatu Stadium and follows a straight knockout format. Uganda and Sudan open proceedings in the early kick-off on Thursday, July 24, before Kenya's Harambee Stars face a fiery test against Tanzania later that afternoon. Winners from both matches will progress to the final on Sunday, July 27, while the losing sides square off in the third-place playoff earlier that same day. For teams like Kenya and Sudan, who have recently reshuffled their squads, and Uganda and Tanzania, who will be playing in front of expectant home fans when CHAN kicks off in early August, the CECAFA test presents a timely gauge of tactical shape, squad cohesion, and match sharpness. With CHAN 2024 being hosted jointly by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania from August 2–30, the regional tune-up takes on added significance, both as a symbolic curtain-raiser and a chance to establish bragging rights ahead of the real contest. All four nations have confirmed they will field teams composed solely of domestic-based players, staying true to CHAN's identity as a showcase of local league talent. CECAFA Four Nations Cup – Karatu Stadium, Arusha (All times EAT): Thursday, 24 July 2025 – Matchday 1🕐 1:00 PM – Uganda vs Sudan 🕓 4:00 PM – Tanzania vs Kenya Sunday, 27 July 2025 – Final & 3rd Place Match🕐 1:00 PM – Loser Match 1 vs Loser Match 2 (3rd Place) 🕓 4:00 PM – Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2 (Final)
