The first-leg matches of the second round in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers wrapped up this weekend, delivering an exciting mix of dominant victories and tightly contested draws.
Guinea, Angola, and Sudan emerged as standout performers, taking significant strides toward qualification, while suspense lingers for several teams ahead of the return legs.
The action commenced on Friday, December 20, with Guinea’s emphatic 4-1 triumph over Guinea-Bissau.
The local Syli National delivered a commanding performance, overwhelming the local Os Djurtus to establish a strong foothold for the next leg.
On Saturday, Angola secured a solid 2-0 victory against Lesotho, demonstrating efficiency and control throughout the match.
Similarly, Zambia dominated Mozambique with an impressive 3-0 win, while Madagascar eased past Eswatini with a comfortable 2-0 result.
Chad and DR Congo played to a 1-1 stalemate, leaving their tie delicately poised.
Sunday’s fixtures added more drama to the qualifiers.
South Sudan edged Rwanda in a thrilling 3-2 encounter, showcasing resilience and attacking flair.
Sudan capitalized on their opportunities to claim a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia, while Cameroon narrowly defeated the Central African Republic 1-0 in a tight contest.
Some matches ended with parity, maintaining the suspense for the second leg.
Ghana and Nigeria battled to a goalless draw in a clash of giants, while Senegal was held to a 1-1 draw by Liberia.
Togo and Niger also shared the spoils with a 1-1 result.
Elsewhere, Ivory Coast secured a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso, giving them a significant advantage.
Mauritania narrowly overcame Mali 1-0 in a closely fought match, setting the stage for an intriguing second-leg encounter.
Complete first-leg results of the CHAN 2024 second round
Friday, December 20, 2024
- Guinea 4-1 Guinea-Bissau
Saturday, December 21, 2024
- Lesotho 0-2 Angola
- Equatorial Guinea vs. Congo (postponed)
- Chad 1-1 DR Congo
- Mozambique 0-3 Zambia
- Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar
- Burundi vs. Uganda (postponed)
Sunday, December 22, 2024
- South Sudan 3-2 Rwanda
- Central African Republic 0-1 Cameroon
- Ethiopia 0-2 Sudan
- Ghana 0-0 Nigeria
- Ivory Coast 2-0 Burkina Faso
- Liberia 1-1 Senegal
- Togo 1-1 Niger
- Mauritania 1-0 Mali
The second-leg matches are set to determine which teams will secure their spots in CHAN 2024.
With several ties finely balanced, the stage is set for another weekend of high-stakes action across the continent.
