Nigeria face holders, Senegal in what can be described as a tough group in the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) to be staged in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, www.aclsports.com reports.
In the draws for the tournament held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday night, the Super Eagles were drawn in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, 2018 bronze medalists Sudan and Congo Brazzaville. The competition, originally slated for next month, was rescheduled to August 2025 to ensure world-class infrastructure and facilities.
Led by stand-in head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, the home-based Eagles booked their spot in the competitions after beating Ghana over two legs. It is the first time Nigeria will be returning to the competition since a final defeat to Morocco in 2018. En route to the final, Nigeria defeated Sudan, and the two teams are set to meet once again in the competition this time around. It is Nigeria’s fourth appearance in the tournament, and her best finish remains the second-place finish at the 2018 edition in Morocco.
In Group A, Kenya will battle two-time champions Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia. Co-hosts Tanzania are placed in Group B alongside Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Central African Republic. While Uganda, who are making a seventh consecutive appearance, will battle Niger, and Guinea, with two additional teams set to join the group later from the playoff in Group C.
Two teams must still book their places at the finals, with Algeria, Comoros, Gambia, Malawi, Egypt, South Africa, and Gabon to take part in a qualification campaign to fill the slots in Group C for Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2.
CHAN has had seven previous editions and will be played in East Africa for the first time since Rwanda were hosts in 2016. Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo have each lifted the trophy twice before, along with Tunisia, Libya, and defending champions Senegal.
CAF AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP GROUPS
GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
GROUP C: Uganda, Niger, Guinea, Qualifier 1, Qualifier 2
GROUP D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria
