TANZANIA, July 27 -- East Africa is about to catch a football fever so contagious, even the cows in Arusha are mooing in formation.

From the sun-kissed shores of Dar es Salaam to the hilltop buzz of Kampala and the matatu-blaring rhythm of Nairobi, a rare spell is sweeping through the region.

This isnt your usual football hype. No, sir. This is the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.

It will be rolling into town like a visiting in-law who insists on staying for a whole month, except this one is actually welcome.

For once, the spotlight isnt on Europes usual suspects flying in business class with designer headphones and TikTok endorsements.

CHAN is proudly different. Its raw, its homegrown, and its gloriously chaot...