CHAN 2016 Qualifiers: Burundi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Zambia Among Teams to Progress
The preliminary round of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers concluded this weekend with a series of decisive second-leg matches across the West, Central-East, and Southern zones. Nine fixtures were played on Saturday, determining several teams’ fates as they battle for a place in the tournament reserved for players active in their domestic leagues.
Key Qualifiers:
Burundi advanced after a 2-1 home win over Djibouti, securing their place in the next round.
Zimbabwe held Comoros to a 0-0 draw, which was enough to qualify thanks to their first-leg advantage.
Lesotho earned qualification after a 1-1 draw with Botswana, progressing on away goals.
Zambia edged past Namibia after a dramatic penalty shootout (6-5), following a 2-1 win in regulation.
Other Results:
Angola overcame Swaziland 2-0 to seal their spot.
Uganda drew 1-1 with Tanzania, qualifying with a superior aggregate score.
Ethiopia managed a goalless draw against Kenya, which was enough to advance.
Senegal confirmed their place with a 1-0 away victory over Gambia, completing a 4-1 aggregate win.
Mozambique delivered one of the most dominant performances of the round, defeating Seychelles 4-0 away to comfortably move on.
The first-leg advantage helped teams like Senegal and Guinea—who beat Liberia 3-1 in the opening leg—navigate through the return matches with confidence. However, other nations, including Mali, found themselves in more precarious positions, needing strong second-leg performances to progress following a 1-1 draw with Guinea-Bissau in their first meeting.
The CHAN 2016 qualifiers continue to highlight the depth of local talent across Africa, as national sides composed exclusively of home-based players compete for a place in the final tournament, set to take place in Rwanda.
