NAIROBI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The East African region eventually welcomed a continental football tournament after 49 years as the 2024 Africa Home Nations Championship (CHAN) co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda kicked off on Saturday.

Since its inception in 2009, the biennial CHAN has established itself as a premier continental tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), exclusively for players who compete in their home countries' domestic leagues.

The eighth edition, initially scheduled for February, was delayed to August due to venue issues. It is also the first time for the tournament to be co-hosted by three African countries.

A record total prize of 10.4 million U.S. dollars marked a major financial boost signaling the organization's intentions to elevate the competition's status.

Nineteen teams were divided into four groups, co-host Tanzania opened the tournament with a dream start by beating Burkina Faso 2-0 on Saturday. ■