CHAN
Double ‘Jollof Rice’ Confrontation as Ghana face Nigeria in CHAN and WAFU B U17 Girls’ Cup
Nigeria and Ghana will battle for the ultimate prize in the inaugural WAFU U17 Girls’ Cup on Sunday – incidentally, the same day the home-based senior men clash in Accra in the first leg of the 8th African Nations Championship qualifying fixture pitting both countries against each other.
On Thursday night, in the second semi-final of the WAFU U17 Girls’ Cup, World Cup quarter-finalists Nigeria defeated their counterparts from Benin Republic 2-0, both goals coming in the second half of the encounter at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram. Sunday’s final will also take place at the same centre, outside Accra.
Forward Mary Lucky Mkpa scored from the penalty spot in the 70th minute to put Nigeria in front, eight minutes after gangling striker Janet Akekoromowei had missed a great opportunity to put the Flamingos ahead.
Eight minutes after the opener, Peace Effiong profited from a goalkeeping error to extend Nigeria’s lead, but Akekoromowei’s 84th minute goal was chalked off by the referee as the forward was judged to have impeded the goalkeeper before scoring.
The Flamingos reached the final having scored 14 goals in three matches, conceding only two, and will start with much confidence against a Ghanaian side that defeated Cote d’Ivoire’s girls 5-0 earlier in the afternoon to reach Sunday’s final.
Ghanaians are putting behind their missing out in Africa Cup of Nations 2025, their first absence in 20 years since Tunisia 2004.
To compensate for the AFCON loss, their attention has shifted to their regional rivals, Nigeria with which Ghana has maintained one of the longest football rivalries in Africa.
Their rivalry dates to 1951 when they officially met for the first time. The two teams will engage in another confrontation on Sunday for a ticket to the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Ghana’s Black Galaxies’ head coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has expressed confidence ahead of his team’s crucial duel against Nigeria, scheduled for Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium and December 26 in Uyo.
Ghana Guardian reports that Dramani views the encounter with Nigeria as a necessary challenge for his team’s growth, stressing that facing strong opponents is vital for achieving success in football.
“In football, when you want to get to the top, you should be ready to meet the top liners. For me, it was not surprising that we were meeting Nigeria,” he remarked.
He further emphasized the significance of the CHAN tournament in showcasing the talent of locally based players and preparing them for greater opportunities, including potential senior national team call-ups. Dramani noted, “The future of this team is just to show domestically what we are made of and to sell out to these young players that they have the capabilities and qualities to also be in the senior national team.”
As Ghana prepares to face one of the continent’s strongest sides, Dramani remains focused on proving the value of the country’s domestic football and the quality of its local players on the African stage.
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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
The stage is set for an enthralling final round of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, as Africa’s finest domestic players battle to secure a place at the main tournament.
The double-legged ties, beginning this weekend, feature classic rivalries and regional showdowns that will define the final 19 teams headed for Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania next year.
The most anticipated clash of the qualifiers sees Ghana take on arch-rivals Nigeria. This “Jollof Derby” not only revives a long-standing rivalry but also places immense pressure on two nations that pride themselves on footballing excellence.
Ghana, powered by their rich CHAN history, will look to stop a resurgent Nigeria, who have a point to prove after recent near misses in continental competitions.
In another West African thriller, Guinea face neighbors Guinea-Bissau. These teams share cultural and sporting rivalries, setting the stage for a fiercely contested tie.
Defending champions Senegal begin their qualifying journey against Liberia, while Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions face the challenge of Central African Republic (CAR).
Cameroon, perennial powerhouses, will need to assert dominance early in the tie to secure their path to the finals.
From the COSAFA region, Mozambique take on Zambia in a fixture brimming with regional pride. Meanwhile, Lesotho clash with Angola as both sides look to defy expectations and progress to the final tournament.
Elsewhere, Eswatini meet Madagascar, while Mauritania tackle Mali in a tie that promises high-energy performances.
The first-leg matches will take place between December 20 and 22, 2024, while the return legs are scheduled for December 25 to 29, 2024.
With the CHAN exclusively for domestic league players, this stage offers emerging talents a platform to shine.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Africa’s top domestic talents aim to book their flights to East Africa for CHAN 2024, where history awaits.
Final qualifying round fixtures:
Liberia vs Senegal
Mauritania vs Mali
Guinea vs Guinea-Bissau
Togo vs Niger
Cote d’Ivoire vs Burkina Faso
Ghana vs Nigeria
Equatorial Guinea vs Congo
Central African Republic vs Cameroon
Chad vs DR Congo
Burundi vs Uganda
Ethiopia vs Sudan
South Sudan vs Rwanda
Eswatini vs Madagascar
Lesotho vs Angola
Mozambique vs Zambia
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