African Nations Championship Qualifiers: Thrilling First Leg Results Set Up Epic Second Legs
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The first leg of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers delivered an abundance of excitement and unexpected results on Sunday, December 22, 2024, setting the stage for tense and dramatic second-leg clashes.
West Africa saw a dominant performance from Cote d’Ivoire, who cruised to a 2-0 victory against Burkina Faso in a highly anticipated derby. Oumar Konaté’s brace at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny gave the Elephants a commanding lead heading into the return fixture in Bamako.
Other Matchday Results
In other noteworthy matches:
- Sudan secured a crucial 2-0 away win against Ethiopia.
- Mauritania edged past Mali with a 1-0 victory in a closely-contested encounter.
- South Sudan narrowly defeated Rwanda 3-2 in a thrilling encounter, with goals from Malish Mandela and Ezibon, along with an early own goal from Nsabimana.
- Nigeria and Ghana played out a goalless draw in Accra, showcasing strong defensive displays.
- Defending champions Senegal were held to a 1-1 draw by Liberia in Monrovia, with Seydina Mbaye’s opener cancelled out by Bility’s late equalizer.
Rwanda, despite their 3-2 defeat, remain hopeful ahead of the return leg in Kigali. Meanwhile, the goalless draw between Nigeria and Ghana sets the stage for a fierce battle next week as both teams aim to secure qualification.
Looking Ahead
The second leg of the CHAN 2024 qualifiers will kick off on December 25, with teams battling to secure a spot in the tournament, which will be hosted in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in February 2024.
Don’t miss the action as teams fight for continental glory! Stay tuned for updates and live coverage of the second leg matches.