CHAN 2024: 7 teams eliminated as others eye quarterfinal spots

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 2024 AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 SATURDAY (AUGUST 16) GROUP B FIXTURES 
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso vs Madagascar 🇲🇬 (8pm EAT)
🇨🇫 Central African Republic vs Tanzania 🇹🇿 (8pm EAT)

Two weeks of continental football action have produced the goods — yet, this historic African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) in East Africa has yet to reach its peak, with more action set to be served up in the coming days.

The only team to have secured its place in the knockout stage (quarterfinals) are Tanzania, who are hosting this eighth edition alongside neighbours Uganda and Kenya.

And while some teams are on the brink of joining the Taifa Stars on the other side, others are on the verge of elimination at the group stage — a fate already suffered by Nigeria, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Angola, Guinea and Niger. 

In Group A, leaders Kenya will only need to avoid defeat against Zambia on Sunday (August 17) to progress.

Morocco and DR Congo, the two most successful sides in this competition (two titles each), will face off aiming for nothing short of a win to advance. A draw could still see both of them through if Chipolopolo defeat debutants Harambee Stars.

In Group B, while blemishless Taifa Stars sit pretty on the other side, thanks to a three-game winning streak, one qualification spot is still up for grabs. It is an opportunity now only available to Mauritania and Madagascar.

Madagascar will qualify at the expense of Mauritania if they beat Burkina Faso tonight at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City. Les Mourabitounes, currently second on the log, can only cross their fingers and wait because they have already played their maximum four group games.

It is already an embarrassment of riches for Tanzania, who no matter what happens when they meet Central African Republic, will not be dislodged from the summit of the group. Although already eliminated, the Wild Beasts will be hoping to bow out with at least a point or three on the log.

In Group C, the two qualification spots are still for the taking, with three teams still in contention.

Co-hosts Uganda did not play on Friday (August 15) but the results in the two games at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala worked in their favour. The Cranes remained top of the group on six points after Algeria were held 1-1 by Guinea in the earlier kickoff and South Africa failed to break Niger's shackles in a goalless result.

That means it is going right down to the wire to determine the identities of the top two finishers of this tight group.

Uganda will only need to avoid defeat when they duel with South Africa in Kampala on Monday (August 18). In the other game to be played concurrently, Algeria will have to beat Niger in Nairobi to guarantee their passage into the knockout stage.

There are other ways you can look at this: Bafana Bafana will advance with a victory over Uganda. The Cranes will still go through if they are defeated and Algeria are beaten by Niger. Clearly, although Le Mena are already out, they still have a huge say in this group's permutations.

In Group D, the two qualification spots are saying: "Who will take me?"

With Nigeria already eliminated, any one of the three surviving teams can qualify: leaders Sudan, reigning champions Senegal and Congo.

Sudan know they will progress if they avoid defeat against the holders on Tuesday (August 19). But both teams will be through if Nigeria beat Congo or if the contest ends in a draw. Victory for The Red Devils will guarantee their passage into the quarter-finals.

All the matchups will make for interesting watching as the knockout stage beckons.

58 goals in 28 games

This edition of Africa's flagship biennial tournament featuring exclusively home-based players has been serving up goals in all forms. Having got under way 14 days ago in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam, the competition has so far delivered 58 goals in 28 games across the four groups.

 Top goal scorers 

As it stands, seven 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, Sudan's Abdel Raouf and Algeria's Sofiane Bayazid.

 Draws 

Each of the four groups have had at least one 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. Algeria were also held by Guinea in a contest that ended 1-1 while it was goalless between South Africa and Niger.

Group D produced two draws in Zanzibar City: Congo 1-1 Sudan and Senegal 1-1 Congo.

 Penalty goals 

Six of the 58 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, the two latest goals to be scored have come five minutes in stoppage time (90+5): Ange Zoumara's injury time consolation goal for Central African Republic against Burkina Faso in a 4-2 result and Sabir Bougrine's goal that wrapped up Morocco's 3-1 victory over Zambia.