50 goals scored so far at CHAN 2024

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 2024 AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 THURSDAY (AUGUST 14) GROUP A FIXTURES 
🇲🇦 Morocco vs Zambia 🇿🇲 (5pm EAT)
🇦🇴 Angola vs DR Congo 🇨🇩 (8pm EAT)

There will be more action today (Thursday) at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) in East Africa, with focus shifting to Kenya's capital Nairobi for two Group A fixtures. First up, Morocco will take on Zambia, before Angola and DR Congo lock horns later.

Zambia — who have yet to pick up a point after two games — will be eliminated if they lose to Morocco in the early fixture at 5pm (EAT) at Nyayo National Stadium.

In a very competitive group, Angola will go level on points with leaders and co-hosts Kenya if they beat DR Congo, and depending on the margin of victory, The Black Antelopes could end the day at the summit of Group A.

Wins for both Morocco and DR Congo will lift them up the table, level on points (six) in second and third, with placement depending on who will have a better goal difference.

The Harambee Stars (Kenya), themselves debutants at this competition, have picked up seven points in three games and will sit back and keenly watch those two games.

Meanwhile, Wednesday's results in Group B in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam improved the goals chart from 47 prior to the two kickoffs of the day to 50 goals in 24 games at the end of the day.

After Madagascar beat Central African Republic 2-0 at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the earlier game, Mauritania edged Burkina Faso 1-0 in the subsequent fixture at the same venue. Both results eliminated the losing teams from the tournament, with each a game to spare.

The expectation is that Thursday will bring more goals at this historic eighth edition of Africa's flagship biennial tournament featuring exclusively home-based players, which got under way 12 days ago. It is the first edition to be hosted by three countries — Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

 Top goal scorers 

So far, the goals have come in all forms and as it stands, six players are joint-top scorers, each with two goals to their name.

They are Uganda's Allan Okello, Kenya's Austin Odhiambo, Tanzania's Clement Mzize, Angola's Kaporal, South Africa's Thabiso Kutumela and Sudan's Abdel Raouf.

 Draws 

Each of the four groups have had at least a draw result.

In Group A, Angola drew 1-1 with co-hosts Kenya in Nairobi, Madagascar and Mauritania produced a stalemate in Dar es Salaam in Group B.

Algeria and South Africa could not be separated at the end of 90 in a 1-1 result in Kampala while Group D produced two draws in Zanzibar City: Congo 1-1 Sudan and Senegal 1-1 Congo.

 Penalty goals 

Six of the 50 goals scored so far at this tournament have been from the penalty spot.

Austin Odhiambo converted from the spot in the 12th minute as co-hosts Kenya drew 1-1 with Angola in Group A.

In first-half stoppage time, Tanzania's Abdul Sopu slotted his side into the lead to put the co-hosts on course for a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Grop B. Burkina Faso would then become penalty beneficiaries as Abdul Abass Guiro (61) and Patrick Malo (78) succesfully scored their penalties in a 4-2 triumph over Central African Republic.

Alassane Diop's penalty in first-half stoppage time was the lone winner for Mauritania against 10-man Burkina Faso, a result that eliminated The Stallions from the competition with a game to spare.

In Group C, Okello of Uganda did not even do a run-up to the ball as he coolly slotted home from the spot as the co-hosts brushed aside Guinea 3-0.

In Group D, Walieldin Khidir's 44th-minute penalty put a dominant Sudan on course for a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Nigeria, a result that condemned the CHAN Eagles to a premature exit from the tournament with a game to spare.

 Own goals 

Twice have we seen players bury their heads in their hands over the freakish goal after turning the ball into their own net.

Quinto was the first scorer of this unwanted goal as Angola collapsed to a 2-0 defeat to joint-record winners Morocco in Group A in Nairobi.

Then came Nigerian defender Leonard Ngenge's blunder 25 minutes into their crushing, tournament-ending 4-0 defeat to a resplendent Sudan side in Group D in Zanzibar City.

 Fastest and latest goals 

As it stands, Jo Paciencia has scored the fastest goal at this tournament, his strike coming only seven minutes into Angola's 1-1 draw against Kenya's Harambee Stars.

On the other end, Ange Zoumara's stoppage time consolation goal (90+5th minute) for Central African Republic against Burkina Faso in a 4-2 result is so far the latest goal netted at this edition. That game is also the one with the most number of goals scored thus far: six.