THE draw for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) took place Wednesday at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
2018 finalist, Nigeria is placed in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, Sudan and Congo.
The Super Eagles B team have their work cut out with Senegal and Sudan which have very formidable homegrown teams. Sudan, managed by Ghana-born gaffer Kwesi James Appiah will be relying on the same squad that sacked Ghana from the 2025 African Nations Cup finals to be hosted by Morocco.
The draw ceremony, conducted by former African football stars McDonald Mariga, Mrisho Ngasa, Hassan Wasswa, and CAF Director of Competitions Samson Adamu, determined the fate of the 19 participating teams across four groups.
The tournament, initially scheduled for February, was postponed to August 2025, following CAF’s announcement on 14 January to allow more time for infrastructure preparations in the three host nations – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Group A with hosts Kenya, Zambia, and DR. Congo presents a challenging path for Morocco, who enter their fifth CHAN appearance as two-time champions (2018, 2020).
They will face stiff competition from DR Congo, winners of the 2009 and 2016 editions, alongside Angola, who finished as runners-up in 2011, and Zambia, who secured third place in 2009.
The competition format will feature four groups, with Groups A, B, and C containing five teams each, while Group D comprises four teams. The top teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
This eighth edition of CHAN marks the first time the tournament will be hosted by three nations, utilising five venues across the region:
• Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium – 60,000 capacity
• Amaan Stadium – 20,000 in Tanzania
• Namboole Stadium – 45,000 in Uganda
•Nyayo National Stadium – 18,000; and
• Moi International Sports Centre – 55,000 in Kenya
The tournament’s prize money has been increased, with the winners set to receive $3.5 million.
The competition remains exclusive to players actively competing in their domestic leagues.
THE GROUPS:
GROUP A:
- Kenya
- Morocco
- Angola
- DR Congo
- Zambia
GROUP B:
- Tanzania
- Madagascar
- Mauritania
- Burkina Faso
- Central African Republic
GROUP C:
- Uganda
- Niger
- Guinea, Q2, Q1
GROUP D:
- Senegal
- Congo
- Sudan
- Nigeria
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