CHAN 2024: Burkina Faso, Central African Republic eliminated

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 2024 AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 WEDNESDAY (AUGUST 13) GROUP D RESULTS 
🇲🇬 Madagascar 2-0 Central African Republic 🇨🇫
🇲🇷 Mauritania 1-0 Burkina Faso 🇧🇫

The ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) in East Africa saw more teams hit the cul-de-sac on Wednesday (August 13), as Central African Republic and Burkina Faso became the second and third teams, respectively, to be eliminated from the competition.

Central African Republic's slim hopes of making it out of Group B were dashed by a late charge by Madagascar in a 2-0 result at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam.

Tamed and sitting at the bottom after three games, The Wild Beasts' final group game against already qualified co-hosts Tanzania this Saturday (August 16) may seem pointless, but it is the one last chance for Sébastien Ngato's side to bow out with at least a point — or three — on the log.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso suffered their second defeat of this eighth edition of Africa's flagship biennial tournament for exclusively home-based players. A draw against Mauritania in Dar es Salaam would have kept The Stallions still in contention for that second qualification spot, but it was a 1-0 defeat.

Wednesday's results mean that victory for third-placed Madagascar (four points) when they face Burkina Faso this Saturday will lift them into the quarter-finals at the expense of second-placed Mauritania (seven points) on goal difference.

Fate is already out of Les Mourabitoune's hands because they have played all their four group games and can only wait and hope that Madagascar falter.

Madagascar, nicknamed the Barea, knew they had to beat Central African Republic to stand any chance of making it out of the group. Yet, they faced resistance from a stubborn opponent for the majority of the game — until second-half substitute Toky Niaina Rakotondraibe broke the deadlock six minutes after coming on.

Barea came close to locking in the victory not long after but eventually, Nomena Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa sealed the win with a stoppage time strike. The two-goal victory margin will have proven vital for Madagascar going into their final group game.

In the second game of the night, Mauritania had known much earlier before the two kickoffs that they would join Tanzania in the quarters if they beat Burkina Faso and Madagascar failed to beat Central African Republic.

That script did not follow their wishes.

However, Les Mourabitounes did their part, thanks to Alassane Diop's penalty deep in first half stoppage time against ten-man Burkina Faso. That lone goal was enough to whittle down the Group B race for the second qualification spot to only two teams: Mauritania and Madagascar.

Nigeria were the first team to be eliminated after a 4-0 defeat to Sudan in Group D on Tuesday (August 12) in Zanzibar City. 

Today (Thursday) could see more casualties, as attention shifts to Group A, where bottom side 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 Kenya's capital Nairobi.

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.

This historic tournament being hosted by three countries for the first time (Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania) is cruising in its second week. So far, a total of 50 goals have been scored in 24 group games, with six players (two goals each) leading the goal-scoring chart.

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.