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West African football giants Ghana and Nigeria are set to reignite their rivalry in a high-stakes clash, as the two nations will battle for a spot at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) following Wednesday’s qualifying draw. Both sides previously faced off in the 2022 CHAN qualifiers, with Ghana emerging victorious via penalties after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
The 2024 CHAN tournament, which features domestic-based players across Africa, has attracted 42 entrants, divided into six regional zones. Most zones will produce three qualifying teams each, while the Cecafa region has an extra spot due to Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda automatically qualifying as joint hosts. The Cecafa team with the best result in their qualifiers will advance.
The tournament, set for February 1-28, 2024, will feature 19 teams—an increase from the 18 teams in 2022. However, the format for the finals is yet to be revealed.
Notably, former champions Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya have been guaranteed spots in the finals as the only entrants from North Africa. Meanwhile, CHAN holders Senegal will await the winner of the Sierra Leone vs Liberia tie in the second round.
Caf has also increased the prize pool for CHAN 2024 by 60%, with the tournament winner now set to receive $2 million (£1.53 million).
The qualifiers will take place over two rounds on a home-and-away basis, with the final matches set for December. The tournament will also serve as a testing ground for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as they prepare to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Key Qualifying Matches:
- Western Zone B Second Round: Ghana v Nigeria
- Western Zone A Second Round: Sierra Leone or Liberia v Senegal
- Southern Zone First Round: Zimbabwe v Eswatini, Lesotho v Namibia
