CHAN
Not just inadequate facilities, but other reasons occasioned CHAN postponement
On the surface, CAF hinged the postponement of the 2024 African Nations Championship to the facilities in the host countries not being ready. The continental body in the same breath praised the “good progress made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the host countries.”
But GhanaSoccer.net has reported that an inadequate number of teams for the final competition may have been the cause of the postponement.
Only 13 teams are reflected in the final draw leading to the title match. The 13 are joined by the host nations to take the field to 16. Rwanda, initially offered a wild card, is not reflected in the final draw list.
The late acceptance of Algeria to the field has not yet been confirmed as the country’s name is missing from the list released by CAF just hours before the draw. There is however provision for possible two entries.
Algeria agreed to be the 19th team, opting to field its youth team as domestic players in the lead league cannot be legally compelled to release players outside a non-FIFA international calendar.
CAF needs a field of either 20 or 24 to run a perfect competition. It will also ensure a regional balancing.
The qualifying series was plagued with a series of withdrawals owing to the timing of the final competition which was originally scheduled for 2024 before being moved to February 2025.
Domestic leagues of the various countries are normally in full swing at this time.
Egypt, South Africa and Algeria among others had to pull out. These countries along with The Gambia and Comoros are now being offered wild card entries with only Algeria giving definite acceptance.
CAF has now opted for August as it possibly wants the domestic leagues to wrap up their campaigns smoothly, without interrupting momentum and to also avoid straining players.
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Hours before the final draw for the 8th edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, a logo has been unveiled for the competition which has been postponed till August.
According to CAF, the championship’s organisers, the new look for the tournament brings a fresh identity and emphasises its deep-rooted connections to African football and culture.
It comes with a new CHAN 2024 trophy that features a sleek, contemporary design, combining gold and silver elements, representing the prestige and growing stature of the tournament.
A significant detail is the 54 distinct lines encircling the trophy, symbolizing the 54 African nations united with a map of the continent at its core.
This element underscores the championship’s celebration of diversity and unity across the continent. Each line represents the foundation of African football, a pathway carved by our passion and skill, a tribute to our players and our dreams.
The new trophy stands as a powerful symbol of African football’s ongoing progress and our shared passion for the game.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Even though the final tournament of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) may have been postponed by six months, the draw will still be held this Wednesday.
A likely scenario is for Nigeria and Rwanda to be grouped together again, as both are in different pots ahead of the draw.
Nigeria, not being seeded are in the last pot and among the quartet that has no point garnered.
The others with no point are DR Congo, Central African Republic and Burkina Faso.
Being in different pots, Nigeria and Rwanda could be grouped together. Both were similarly pitted against one another in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series, thus facing one another four times in a space of one year.
Should they be grouped together again, five fixtures of both teams will be running from 2024 to 2025. Coincidentally, in the two times they met so far, Nigeria could not beat Rwanda.
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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The African Nations Championship, now postponed till August, will still have the draw held on Wednesday 15 January.
With three host nations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, there is supposed to be a field of either 20 or 24.
Only 18 qualified as either hosts or through the competition on the field. Algeria, earlier withdrawn, accepted to feature, but with its youth team, avoiding a disruption of the domestic league.
If the Algerian re-entry is accepted, the number of teams will rise to 19.
Sources informed the Sports Village Square that CAF which actually took the decision to postpone the final tournament on Monday evening but made open the decision 24 hours later, is working on five other countries as possible wildcard holders.
In order to establish a geographical balance, the countries being ‘wooed’ are: Egypt (North Africa), South Africa (Southern Africa), Malawi (Southeastern Africa), The Gambia (West Africa Zone A), Gabon (Central Africa) and Comoros (Southeastern Africa).
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