CHAN
Senegal become first CHAN champions from West Africa
African Nations Championship (CHAN) hosts, Algeria may have set a new tournament record by not conceding in six games at the tournament in regular time, their hopes of winning for the first time, especially on home soil was dashed by Senegal in a final that got into the extra time for the first time since 2009.
Great Senegal! They become the first West African team to win the tournament after earlier final failures by Ghana in 2009 and 2014, Nigeria in 2018 and Mali in 2016 and 2020.
In essence, Senegal are current Africa Cup of Nations and CHAN holders, a first time that is happening.
The Local Teranga Lions edged hosts in a very tense final at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers in front of 39,120 spectators on a cold winter night.
Pape Thiaw’s outfit will look back and be proud of their performance on the night that saw them complete the treble for the West African nation in a year that has seen them lift the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as well as the Beach Soccer AFCON.
Both sides seemed tense in the opening minutes of the final that would see a new champion for the continental tournament that is organised for players that feature in their domestic leagues.
The tension escalated as Gabonese referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho dished out four yellow cards in the opening half hour but they both settled in well thereafter and sought to have an edge over their opponents.
Goalless at the half-time mark, both coaches Madjid Bougherra and Pape Thiaw sought to make some changes in the second half and increase their intensity while maintaining a balanced outlook on the night.
Four minutes into the second half, Senegal defender Cheikh Sidibe tried to clear the ball away from Mokhtar Belkhither, but it bounced off him before he commenced a spirited run into the box but despite his timely pass to Aimen Mahious, the forward’s effort was off target as well as his resulting attempt from a corner kick.
Senegal came close to an opener in the 56th minute but Diallo’s long-range strike from outside the box went over the bar much to the frustration of the Senegal bench who were on the edge of their seats.
Mahious made a good run into the box from the middle to pass to Zakaria Draoui and then Belkhither in the box whose shot was blocked by Ousmane Diouf as the Senegalese maintained their shape.
With the game ending goalless after regular time, extratime called for extra focus as both sides continued pressing up front but neither was successful.
In the 99th minute, Mahious played a clean through ball for Abderrahmane Ben Tahar on the left wing with the latter sending a timely high ball for Zinnedine Belaid in the box but his header after rising above the Senegalese defence was picked up easily by Pape Mamadou Sy who was well-positioned.
In the 105th minute, Mrezigue had his shot on target saved by the alert Sy who denied him from finding the back of the net. The game eventually went into penalties after both sides failed to score.
Elhadji Mooutarou Balde of Teungueth stepped up first for Senegal and sent his attempt into the lower corner past Alexis Guendouz who guessed right but the power on the ball was too much for him.
Akram Djahnit hesitated before making his attempt and Sy was quick to save it through the middle to find the back of the net, but Sy was off his line. Djahnit made no mistake with his second attempt, sending it into the left corner to make it 1-1 for the hosts.
Senegal’s Moussa Ndiaye was on point through the middle past Guendouz to give the Teranga Lions a 2-1 lead before Draoui equalized with a nicely taken low shot into the right corner sending Sy the wrong way.
Moussa Kante made way to the penalty spot and as he prepared his attempt, Guendouz psyched himself up in the box but despite going the right way, Kante’s powerful shot was too high for him to save. Senegal took a 3-2 lead.
Soufiane Bayazid equalized for Algeria 3-3 with a powerful shot and his animated celebration was enough to show what this meant for him and his tense teammates in the center of the field.
Cheikhou Omar Ndiaye hit the crossbar to send Guendouz into celebration as he made way for Sy who went the wrong way as Youcef Laouafi sent his shot into the right corner to give Algeria a 4-3 lead.
Senegal’s poster boy Lamine Camara was calm on the assignment as his shot in the left corner sent Guendouz the wrong way to make it 4-4.
Mahious, who had scored five of Algeria’s nine goals at the tournament, stepped up with confidence and tried the Panenka but his attempt through the middle was picked up easily by Sy.
The Teranga Lions held their breaths as Ousmane Diouf found the back of the net via a sneaky shot past Guendouz who had dived into the right direction to make it 5-4 for Senegal. The pressure was now on Algeria.
Ahmed Kendouci visibly felt it and when he missed his chance to equalize, it was tears for the home side while Senegal ran onto the pitch in animated celebrations to celebrate the country’s first ever CHAN title.
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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