CHAN
CHAN 2022 qualifying draw sets up possible Ghana v Nigeria clash
The draw for the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers has been held in Cairo and sees a potential clash between Nigeria and Ghana for a place at the finals.
The seeding system for the tournament was based on the results of the last three editions of CHAN, meaning that Ghana and Benin were the lowest-ranked sides and will face each other in regionally-based qualifiers.
The aggregate winner of that game will face Nigeria in the final round in Western Zone B.
A total of 46 nations were entered in the draw for the expanded tournament for locally-based players which will feature 18 teams for the first time.
Earlier this week the Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced the increase in the number of teams from 16, leading to an unusual format for the finals in Algeria next year.
Caf says the finals will have five groups; three of which will have four nations, while the other two will be comprised of just three teams.
It means the top two from the four-team groups will be joined in the quarter-finals by the winners of the other two pools.
Hosts Algeria, defending champions Morocco and fellow North Africans Libya are already assured of spots at the tournament.
Zimbabwe were included in the draw for the Southern Zone qualifiers despite currently being banned from global football by Fifa and having been thrown out of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
“In case the suspension of Zimbabwe FA is not lifted two weeks before their first match, they will be considered loser and eliminated from the competition,” Caf explained.
The delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the World Cup in Qatar in November and December seem to have had a knock-on effect on the CHAN finals, which are scheduled for 8-31 January 2023.
All qualifying ties are set to be played over two legs, with the winners on aggregate progressing.
First round first leg matches will be played between 22 and 24 July with the return legs a week later.
Those zones with just a single round, and the second rounds in the remainder of zones, will be held between 26 and 28 August, with the return legs also a week later.
CHAN 2022 qualifying – Northern Zone
Two-time defending champions Morocco and Libya were the only nations to enter the qualifiers and so will be at the finals along with hosts Algeria.
Egypt once again opted not to take part in the tournament while Tunisia were suspended after their late withdrawal from the 2020 qualifying campaign.
Western Zone A
All nine teams from region entered to take part in the qualifiers, and three teams will qualify.
First Round:
- Liberia v Senegal
- Sierra Leone v Cape Verde
- The Gambia v Guinea-Bissau
Second Round:
- Liberia/Senegal v Guinea
- Sierra Leone/Cape Verde v Mali
- The Gambia/Guinea-Bissau v Mauritania
Western Zone B
All seven teams from the region entered, and three teams will qualify.
Round one:
- Ghana v Benin
Round two:
- Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso
- Togo v Niger
- Ghana/Benin v Nigeria
Central Zone
A total of six teams entered, and three will qualify.
Sao Tome e Principe were suspended from the CHAN after withdrawing from the 2020 qualifiers, while Gabon opted not to enter.
- Central African Republic v Congo
- Equatorial Guinea v Cameroon
- Chad v DR Congo
Central East Zone
A total of nine teams entered, and three teams will qualify. Eritrea and Kenya opted not to enter.
Round one:
- Ethiopia v South Sudan
- Somalia v Tanzania
- Burundi v Djibouti
Round two:
- Ethiopia/South Sudan v Rwanda
- Somalia/Tanzania v Uganda
- Burundi/Djibouti v Sudan
Southern Zone
A total of 12 teams entered, and three will qualify. Lesotho opted not to enter while Namibia were part of Caf’s original draw procedures but were not included in the final draw.
Round one:
- Mauritius v Angola
- Comoros v South Africa
- Botswana v Eswatini
- Seychelles v Madagascar
- Malawi v Zimbabwe
- Mozambique v Zambia
Round two:
- Mauritius/Angola v Comoros/South Africa
- Botswana/Eswatini v Seychelles/Madagascar
- Malawi/Zimbabwe v Mozambique/Zambia
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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Gabon’s hopes of progressing in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers were dashed as they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Gambia after a goalless draw in Libreville on Saturday.
Despite dominating the second-leg match of the second qualification stage and creating numerous scoring chances, the Panthers failed to find the net, ultimately paying the price in the shootout.
The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Gabon was awarded a penalty, but Samson Mbingui failed to convert, leaving the Scorpions with a lifeline.
With the match still deadlocked at 0-0 after regulation time, the contest went to a penalty shootout, where Gambia kept their composure to secure victory and advance to the next round.
The Scorpions converted all their attempts, while Gabon’s Nasta Oyono missed his shot, sending his effort wide and sealing his team’s elimination.
Elsewhere, Malawi advanced thanks to their 2-0 home win over Comoros to seal a 4-0 aggregate victory.
Wongani Lungu opened in the scoring for the home side in the 50th minute before Binwell Katinji’s strike on the hour mark secured the win.
First Leg Results:
- Gambia 0-0 Gabon (February 28, 2025)
- Comoros 0-2 Malawi (March 2, 2025)
- South Africa 1-1 Egypt (March 2, 2025)
Second Leg Fixtures:
- Malawi 2-0 Comoros – March 8, 2025 Malawi win 4-0 on aggregate
- Gabon 0-0 Gambia – March 8, 2025 – Gambia win on penalties
- Egypt vs. South Africa – March 9, 2025 | 19:30 GMT
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Egypt’s local national team claimed a crucial away goal after drawing 1-1 with South Africa in the first leg of the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers at Free State Stadium on Sunday.
Mohamed Antar put Egypt ahead in the 66th minute with a well-taken volley before South Africa’s Jamie Webber equalized with a powerful strike 14 minutes from time.
The Pharaohs started cautiously, prioritizing defensive stability, while the hosts struggled to break through. South Africa’s first real threat came early in the eighth minute when Monnapule Saleng tested goalkeeper Mahmoud Abou El-Saoud from a distance.
Both sides lacked fluency in the first half, so the teams went into the break level at 0-0. After the restart, Egypt capitalized on a defensive mistake, with Antar firing home to give the visitors a crucial lead.
However, South Africa responded strongly, with Webber unleashing a long-range effort that found the top corner, denying Egypt a first-leg victory.
The result leaves Egypt in a strong position, with the away goal offering a slight advantage ahead of the second leg, scheduled for 9 March in Cairo.
A goalless draw would be enough to send Egypt into the final qualifying round. In this round, they would face either Comoros or Malawi for a place at CHAN 2025, which will be held in August in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
-Ahram
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