The 8th African Nations Championship, CHAN 2024 has reached its latter stages. The quarter finals of the tournament is set to kick off with some blockbusting games set to lit our screens. Unfortunately, our own team, the Super Eagles have bowed out of the tournament.
Although they did bow out on a high as they left with pride after their 2-0 win over Congo in their last group game. Anas Yusuf who was the highest goal scorer in the NPFL last season with 18 goals scored the country’s first goal of the tournament before Sikiru Alimi added another in the latter stages of the game.
Despite the win Sudan and Senegal were the country to qualify from Group D which Nigeria was. Sudan finished as group winners while Senegal finished as runners-up.
The last 8 stage is now set for the bigger boys in the tournament and it is now that we know who wants to go for glory among the 8 countries remaining.
Tanzania v Morocco (Benjamin Mkapa stadium, Dar Es Salaam)
This is a block buster. Tanzania are yet to lose a game in this tournament and finished top of their group comfortably with 10 points. They have conceded only one goal and scored 5.
For Morocco, it has been a tournament where they have to grind results out. They have won 3 games and lost one to fellow host country, Kenya. It will be de javu if they lose again to another host nation.
The Tanzanians will have their 12th man behind them. The atmosphere, the noise and the crowd will be the energy needed to get past a Moroccan team who well drilled and technical.
Morocco are joint highest goal scoring team in this tournament with their 8 goals alongside Uganda. While Tanzania has the best defense.
Will Tanzania continue their ferry tale or will it be de javu for the Atlas Lions?
Kenya v Madagascar ( Moi International sports café, Nairobi)
Another host nation who topped it group comfortably. The Harambee Stars also are yet to lose a game. Benni McCarthy’s men have shown determination and grit to ensure they continue to give their fans pride. They will have the fans still behind them against Madagascar. They also have conceded just once but managed only 4 goals.
It has been a fun fare of Kenyans so far. They will have to hope their team keeps giving them the music to dance to till the final day.
Madagascar scaled through with a last day win against Burkina Faso. They edged Mauritania with goal difference as the two countries finished on the same amount of points. Their goalkeeper, Toldo has been a standout for them as he has stood firm between sticks.
He was the man of the match against Burkina Faso.
Will Toldo be the man again or will the Harambee Stars and their fans keep dancing?
Uganda v Senegal (Nelson Mandela stadium, Kampala)
The defending champions, Senegal have not been the best team so far in this tournament but somehow they have managed to grind out till the quarter finals. They are the team with the lowest number of goals to have qualified for the last 8.
Perhaps the defending champions ride is their luck.
Uganda the third host nations are also writing their own fairytale. The dramatic 3-3 draw against South Africa in the last group game was the height of the fairytale. Now they stand a chance to continue the story as they face Senegal. Uganda are the joint highest goal scoring team with Morocco meaning goals are not a problem.
For Senegal who can’t score goals having only twice in this competition, the Cranes might just need to concentrate on breaking down their wall of defense.
Sudan v Algeria (Aman stadium, Zanzibar)
Sudan were group D winners. They have been an interesting side led by a Ghanaian, Kwesi Appiah. The team despite not playing league football in a year plus due to the war in the country, they have shown so much cohesion as a team. They defeated Nigeria 4-0 and have conceded just 1 so far.
Algeria remain one of the unbeaten teams in the tournament. They have not really been spectacular but have done the job with just a win and 3 draws.
They will need to dig deep to get past this well drilled Sudanese side.
The semifinals await the final 4. The three host nations stand a chance to make history. Will they continue the fairytale stories or will this be the end of the road?
