The final round of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers kicks off this weekend with key home-and-away fixtures set to determine Africa’s final participants.

Here’s the full schedule of the matches, with all times in (GMT).

First Leg Fixtures

Friday, 20 December 2024
16:00: Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau
17:00: Chad vs DR Congo

Saturday, 21 December 2024
13:00: Burundi vs Uganda
13:00: Lesotho vs Angola
15:00: Equatorial Guinea vs Congo
15:00: Mozambique vs Zambia
16:00: Eswatini vs Madagascar

Sunday, 22 December 2024
13:00: South Sudan vs Rwanda
14:00: Central African Republic vs Cameroon
14:00: Ethiopia vs Sudan
16:00: Ghana vs Nigeria
16:00: Ivory Coast vs Burkina Faso
16:00: Liberia vs Senegal
16:00: Togo vs Niger
17:00: Mauritania vs Mali

Second Leg Fixtures

Wednesday, 25 December 2024
14:00: Sudan vs Ethiopia

Friday, 27 December 2024
13:00: Uganda vs Burundi
16:00: Niger vs Togo

Saturday, 28 December 2024
13:00: Zambia vs Mozambique
16:00: Burkina Faso vs Ivory Coast
16:00: Cameroon vs Central African Republic
16:00: Guinea-Bissau vs Guinea
16:00: Nigeria vs Ghana
16:00: Rwanda vs South Sudan
16:30: Angola vs Lesotho
17:00: Senegal vs Liberia

Sunday, 29 December 2024
12:00: Madagascar vs Eswatini
14:00: Congo vs Equatorial Guinea
16:00: DR Congo vs Chad
16:00: Mali vs Mauritania

It is 12 days to the first leg match of Ghana – Nigeria confrontation in the qualifying series for the eighth edition of the African Nations Championship.

The Ghanaian team tagged Black Galaxies received a boost from football legend, Abedi Pele who has thrown his support behind the team.

According to Ghana Guardian, the three-time African Footballer of the Year spent time with the team during a friendly exercise at the Ghanaian Soccer Centre of Excellence, where he praised their progress and potential.

The Black Galaxies showcased their readiness with two impressive friendly victories, defeating Abedi Pele’s Nania FC 1-0 and Northern City 5-0 at the GFA Technical Centre Tuesday last week.

After the matches, the legendary midfielder lauded the team’s strength and technical prowess.

“It has been a pleasure for me to have this honour to play against you people today,” Abedi Pele said.

“What I have discovered is you have a strong team, strong physically, technically wonderful. For me, the future of Ghana football is in the making.”

Abedi Pele encouraged the players to embody the determination and unity that comes with representing Ghana on the international stage.

“When you are born in this country and you are playing for the national team, the bond, the hunger to succeed, the courage, and the determination are paramount.

What I’m seeing now is not just physical strength but also tactical organization.”

The Black Galaxies, under the guidance of coach Mas Ud Dramani, are gearing up for the high-stakes two-legged tie against their fierce rivals Nigeria.

The winner of the tie will secure a place at the 2024 CHAN tournament, set to be hosted across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have announced a formidable 24-man squad for their final 2024African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier against Chad.

Leopards A’ coach Otis Ngoma has selected a squad stacked with players from the top clubs in the DRC, including several players playing for their two clubs in the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Champions League.

Seven representatives from AS Maniema Union and five from TP Mazembe – the two sides playing in the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League – were named in the team.

FC St Éloi Lupopo also have five players in the squad. 

Headlining the squad are midfielders Soze Zemanga of TP Mazembe and Joseph Bakasu from AS Maniema Union, while striker Jephté Kitambala will lead the line for the hosts.

Defensively, the Leopards will rely on the experience of TP Mazembe duo Ernest Luzolo Sita and Magloire Tambwe Kalonji, as well as Kaluo Mokonzi Katumbwe and Papy Kokeleya from FC St Éloi Lupopo.

In goal, Brudel Efongé Lyongo of AS Maniema Union is set to stake his claim for the starting spot, alongside Jackson Lunanga Sankiaro of OC Renaissance and Baggio Siadi Ngusia of TP Mazembe.

The squad is rounded out by the inclusion of six reserve players, underlining the depth of talent available to Ngoma as the DR Congo seek to overcome Chad and advance to the CHAN 2024 tournament.

The two-legged tie will see the first match played on December 21 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, before the return leg a week later in Kinshasa.

The Leopards will be looking to assert their dominance over Chad and take a significant step towards securing their place in the 2024 African Nations Championship.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Brudel Efongé Lyongo (AS Maniema Union), Jackson Lunanga Sankiaro (OC Renaissance), Baggio Siadi Ngusia (TP Mazembe)

Defenders: Dieu Merci Lupini (AS Maniema Union), Ernest Luzolo Sita (TP Mazembe), Magloire Tambwe Kalonji (TP Mazembe), Kaluo Mokonzi Katumbwe (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Osé Ndombele (AS Maniema Union), Heltone Kayembe Mujanay (Les Aigles du Congo), Papy Kokeleya (FC St Éloi Lupopo)

Midfielders: Soze Zemanga (TP Mazembe), Joseph Bakasu (AS Maniema Union), Mika Miché (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Agée Basiala (AS Maniema Union), Jacques Nkunku Kumbundu (Blessing FC), Ibrahim Matobo Mubalu (Les Aigles du Congo), Lyse Nyembo Tumba (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Oscar Kabwit Tshikomb (TP Mazembe), Jeancy Mboma Kinda (AS Maniema Union), Jonathan Ikangalombo Kapela (AS V. Club)

Forwards: Tonny Madudu Talasi (Green Angels), Horsö Mwaku Malanga (FC St Éloi Lupopo), Jephté Kitambala (AS Maniema Union), Silva Tshitenge (AC Rangers)

-CAF