By Kennedy Nalyanya
The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) has kicked off with a flurry of on-field action and a new layer of motivation for East African teams: presidential prize money. Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has pledged a staggering 1 billion Tanzanian shillings to the Taifa Stars should they win the tournament. This generous offer follows similar pledges from Kenyan President William Ruto and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to their respective national teams.
The presidential incentives appear to be working. The Tanzanian national team got off to a flying start in their opening match, defeating Burkina Faso 2-0. The goals came from Abdul Suleiman "Sopu" and Mohamed Hussein "Tshabalala," placing Tanzania at the top of their group. The win has given the team and its fans hope that the president's ambitious prize is within reach.
Meanwhile, the other co-hosts of the tournament have also made their presence felt. President William Ruto of Kenya has offered his team a bonus structure that includes a Sh600 million reward if they win the final. For every match victory, each player receives Sh1 million. On Sunday, Harambee Stars stunned two-time champions DR Congo with a 1-0 victory, unlocking the first round of bonuses. Not to be outdone, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has promised the Uganda Cranes a cool Shs1.2 billion for every match they win.
Weekend CHAN Results Roundup
Here's a look at the key results from the opening weekend of CHAN:
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Tanzania 2 - 0 Burkina Faso (Group B)
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Kenya 1 - 0 DR Congo (Group A)
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Morocco 2 - 0 Angola (Group A)
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Madagascar 0 - 0 Mauritania (Group B)
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Guinea 1 - 0 Niger (Group C)
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Algeria 3 - 0 Uganda (Group C)
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