With just over a month to the kick-off of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), defending champions Senegal have begun early preparations by opening a two-week residential training camp ahead of the tournament.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) confirmed that the camp, which commenced on Monday, June 30, is taking place at the Jules François Bocandé Technical Development Centre in Toubab Dialaw. The training programme will run until July 11 and serves as a key phase in the Teranga Lions A’ team’s build-up to the continental competition.

CHAN 2025, which runs from August 2 to 30, will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Senegal, drawn in Group D alongside Nigeria, Sudan, and Congo, will play their group matches in Zanzibar.

A total of 28 players have been called up for this initial training phase, with selections drawn largely from standout performers in Senegal’s domestic league. Teungueth FC, reigning champions of Ligue 1, lead the contributions with four players in the squad. Other top clubs including Generation Foot, AS Pikine, Casa Sports, and ASC Jaraaf are also well represented.

According to the FSF, the camp is focused on tactical drills, fitness conditioning, and fostering team chemistry as the West African side seeks to retain the title they won in Algeria in 2023.

The coaching crew will use this period to assess player form and fitness while planning a series of test matches to fine-tune the squad ahead of the final list for the tournament.

The CHAN tournament, staged biennially, is exclusively reserved for players who compete in their respective national leagues. It serves as a key platform for local talent to gain international exposure and plays a vital role in player development across the continent.

Senegal’s early move into camp signals their serious intent to mount a strong title defence in what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament. Their opening group game against Nigeria is already drawing attention as one of the headline clashes of the group stage.

Below is the full list of 28 players invited to camp:

Marc Phillips Arona Diouf (Teungueth FC), Idrissa Ndiaye (Génération Foot), Mouhamed Sissokho (Amitié FC), Amar Fall (AS Pikine), Elhadji Malick Sembene (Dakar Sacré-Coeur), Seyni Mbaye Ndiaye (US Gorée), Baye Assane Ciss (Teungueth FC), Ousmane Konate (AS Douanes), Daouda Ba (Dakar Sacré-Coeur), Alfred Gomis (US Ouakam), Amadou Bene Coly (AJEL Rufisque), Joseph Layousse Ifra Samb (Teungueth), Issa Kane (Casa Sports), Issaga Kane (ASC Jaraaf), Mbaye Yaya Ly (AS Pikine), Pape Abasse Badji (Génération Foot), Ousseynou Fall Seck (AJEL Rufisque), Insa Boye (Diambars), Libasse Gueye (Teungueth FC), Mangone Ndiaye (AS Pikine), Oumar Ba (US Gorée), Ameth Niang (ASC Jaraaf), Moustapha Fanne (Guédiawaye), Isma Gueye Kouate (Génération Foot), Mapathe Mbodj (AS Kaffrine), Christian Gomis (Essamaye FC), Seydina Madione Mbaye (AJEL Rufisque), Bonaventure Bonito Fonseca (US Ouakam)

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team will play their Group B matches of the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Zanzibar, an island territory of Tanzania, when the competition kicks off from August 2 to 30, 2024.

The island, located off the East African coast, has a population of under two million and is one of three host venues selected for the tournament.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Thursday that the CHAN tournament—reserved for players plying their trade in domestic leagues—will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Group B, where Nigeria is drawn, includes reigning champions Senegal, Congo, and Sudan. Congo was recently reinstated into the group following the expulsion of Equatorial Guinea by the CAF Appeals Committee.

The opening match of the tournament will be held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Kampala’s Mandela Stadium in Uganda will host the third and fourth matches, while the final is scheduled for Saturday, August 30, at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Nigeria, silver medallists in the 2018 edition and bronze winners in 2014, booked their place at this year’s finals after defeating Ghana 3-1 on aggregate in their qualifying tie last December.

GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia (Nairobi)

GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic (Dar es Salaam)

GROUP C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, South Africa, Algeria (Kampala)

GROUP D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria (Zanzibar)

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The valuable away goal that Egypt scored in the first leg of their CHAN qualifiers with South Africa counted for nothing as they crumbled miserably 3-1 at home on Sunday.

Although the Africa Nations Championship is on its eighth edition, Egypt, a record seven times Africa Cup of Nations winner, has never featured in the CHAN.

Egypt’s hopes of qualifying for the first time in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) ended abruptly after a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to South Africa at the Suez Canal Stadium.

Having secured a vital 1-1 draw in the first leg away in South Africa last Sunday, courtesy of Mohamed Antar’s volley, Egypt failed to build on their away-goal advantage and succumbed to a 4-2 aggregate defeat.

South Africa started aggressively, hitting Egypt’s post through Craig Weaver in the fourth minute before eventually taking the lead ten minutes later. Maema capitalized on a defensive error inside the penalty area, slotting home comfortably to put the visitors ahead.

Egypt survived another scare in the 24th minute when Maema’s shot again hit the woodwork. Just three minutes later, however, Mfolozi doubled South Africa’s lead after a deflected cross fell kindly at his feet for an easy finish.

Mohamed El-Sayed briefly reignited Egyptian hopes, reducing the deficit with a deft finish from a precise cross delivered by Sayed Abdullah in the 31st minute, making the halftime score 2-1.

The hosts’ chances of mounting a comeback faded shortly after the restart when goalkeeper Mahmoud Abu Al-Saud conceded a penalty for fouling a South African forward. Luthuli confidently converted the resulting penalty in the 51st minute, restoring the two-goal cushion.

Despite tactical adjustments and several attacking substitutions by Egypt, the home side struggled to threaten South Africa’s composed defense. South Africa comfortably controlled the remainder of the match, securing their passage to the next round.

South Africa will now face Malawi, who advanced by overcoming Comoros with a decisive 4-0 aggregate victory.

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