Tag: CHAN 2024

Nigeria ended their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign on a winning note, defeating Congo 2–0 in their final Group D fixture at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam, on Tuesday.

Anas Yusuf opened the scoring in the 56th minute to end the Super Eagles’ goal drought, before Sikiru Alimi’s stoppage-time header wrapped up the victory.

Despite the result, the win came too late to secure progression, as Sudan and Senegal played out a goalless draw in Kampala to finish joint top of the group with five points apiece, leaving Nigeria in third place with three.

For head coach Eric Chelle, the victory was bittersweet after a difficult campaign that saw his side concede five goals without reply in their opening two matches.

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Before kickoff, Chelle admitted: “Mistakes have haunted us.”

On Tuesday, the Super Eagles finally produced their most composed performance of the 2024 African Nations Championship, sealing a 2–0 win over Congo in Dar es Salaam.

Congo, who needed victory to reach the quarter-finals, were left to rue missed chances and costly indiscipline. Head coach Barthelemy Ngatsono had boldly declared on the eve of the match that “there is no alternative to victory,” but his side squandered first-half opportunities before Charles Atipo was dismissed in stoppage time after a VAR review. Moments later, Sikiru Alimi rose highest to nod home Nigeria’s second goal, ending Congo’s campaign.

For Nigeria, it was a bittersweet conclusion. Eric Chelle’s men celebrated their first win of the tournament, but earlier defeats had already sealed their fate. With eight regulars missing due to overseas transfers, the coach was forced into a rebuild that proved too costly.

Sudan finished top of Group D on goal difference (+4), edging out Senegal (+1) as both advanced unbeaten. Nigeria’s victory left them third on three points, while Congo placed bottom with two.

For Sudan and Senegal, however, the knockout rounds await, with both sides looking equipped to test any challenger.

Group C rivals of the Super Eagles B team, Senegal, suffered a setback in their build-up to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing 2-1 to co-hosts Tanzania in a lively pre-tournament friendly at Karatu Stadium last weekend.

The result rounded off a strong warm-up campaign for the Taifa Stars, who had earlier edged fellow hosts Uganda 1-0. Tanzania’s back-to-back wins are a major morale boost ahead of their CHAN 2024 opener on home soil.

Senegal, who will face Nigeria in their opening group match, got off to a bright start in the game when Mapathe Mbodji capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake to head home from a recycled set-piece in the 8th minute. The early goal appeared to put the defending champions in control.

However, Tanzania responded with resilience and flair, especially through winger Iddi Suleiman, who consistently troubled Senegal’s backline with his pace and direct play. Despite creating several chances and forcing multiple corners, the hosts went into halftime trailing.

The equaliser came shortly after the restart when Suleiman was brought down in the box by Senegalese defender Mbaye Ndiaye. Abdul Suleiman stepped up and slotted the penalty in the 54th minute to level the score.

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Just five minutes later, Tanzania completed the turnaround. Feisal Salum’s intelligent set-piece delivery found Abdul Suleiman, who set up Ibrahim Abdullah for a delicate chip over the Senegal goalkeeper, making it 2-1.

Senegal nearly responded immediately, but substitute goalkeeper Yakoub Suleiman pulled off a crucial save to deny Libasse Gueye in the 61st minute, preserving the home side’s lead.

The result sends a clear message from Tanzania, who are showing strong form ahead of the tournament they co-host with Kenya and Uganda. For Senegal, however, the defeat—coming after another 2-1 loss to Uganda earlier in their preparations—raises questions about their readiness to defend their title when they face Nigeria in their CHAN 2024 opener.

The final line-up for the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania 2024 has been confirmed following the second round of qualifiers in which Algeria and South Africa booked their places in the continental competition.

Algeria secured their ticket with a commanding 3-0 win over The Gambia on Friday that gave them victory on aggregate by the same score line, before South Africa reversed a 1-0 deficit against Malawi on Sunday to advance 2-1 on aggregate in a result that confirmed the 19-team line-up.

Both Algeria and South Africa will be in Group C, following the Final Draw that was conducted in February this year.

The completion of the line-up marks an exciting milestone for the much-anticipated tournament set to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 02-30 August, 2025.

Read Also: CHAN 2024 postponed over uncompleted facilities

Returning to East Africa for the first time since the 2016 edition in Rwanda, the CAF CHAN competitions promises to be another exciting chapter of celebrating African football, through a unique competition featuring the best locally-based players from across the continent.

Reigning champions Senegal will aim to defend their crown after a close victory in Algiers over Algeria in 2022, while all eyes will be on the trio of hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 Groups:

GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia

GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic

GROUP C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Algeria, South Africa

GROUP D: Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Nigeria

Ghana’s Black Galaxies remain upbeat  they will beat Nigeria in Uyo on Saturday and clinch the coveted African Nations Championship ticket ahead of the Super Eagles B.

The latest has come from Hafiz Ibrahim of Attram de Visser FC of Ghana who disclosed that the Black Galaxies are more than ready for the second leg cracker at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo and are certain of turning the table against Nigeria.

Ibrahim stated that the Black Galaxies are not intimidated by Nigeria and are focused on achieving a positive result in Abuja on December 28.

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He noted that the CHAN Eagles were only fortunate to escape unhurt in Accra last weekend but that they are ready to throw caution to the wind in their quest to qualify for the 2024 CHAN.

“When we go out there and put our best foot forward, we know victory will be ours, so we are not afraid of anyone,” he said.

The Black Galaxies have succeeded in eliminating Nigeria at this stage of the qualifier twice but will have a mountain to climb before making it three times because this term Nigeria escaped Accra with draw unlike the two last occasions they lost 3-2 in 2009 and 2-0 in 2022 qualifiers respectively.

Nigeria has only taken part in three editions of the competitions in 2014 (South Africa), 2016 (Rwanda) and 2018 (Morocco. But have missed out on the 2009 (Cote d’Ivoire), 2011 (Sudan), 2020 (Cameroun) and 2022 in Algeria.