The 8th edition of the African Nations Championships CHAN tournament will enter its 2nd day today with two Group A matches in Kenya and 1 Group B fixture in Tanzania.
Co-hosts Kenya will be making their tournament debut as they face two-time champions DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium from 3pm, before paving the way for another two-time winner, Morocco, who will be up against Angola at the Nyayo Stadium from 6pm.
Group A Team Profile
Kenya
Nickname: Harambee Stars
Appearances: 1st
FIFA Ranking: 109
Qualification
Kenya secured their place in the CHAN 2024 tournament as one of the three co-hosting nations. This historic opportunity offers the Harambee Stars a chance to showcase their talent on one of Africa’s biggest stages.
Coach: Benni McCarthy
Head coach Benni McCarthy brings valuable experience to the team, having coached several teams in the South African top flight as well as working with some top clubs in Europe, including Manchester United. His tactical acumen will be crucial in navigating Kenya’s CHAN campaign.
Morocco
Nickname: Atlas Lions
Appearances: 5 (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024)
Best Finish: Champions (2018, 2020)
CHAN Titles: 2
FIFA Ranking: 14
Head Coach: Tarik Sektioui
Former international Tarik Sektioui brings considerable experience to his role as head coach of the Atlas Lions.
Sektioui, who has previously managed Morocco’s U19 and Olympic teams, faces the considerable challenge of maintaining the nation’s dominance in the competition.
His extensive experience with local football, having managed several top-tier Moroccan clubs and won both domestic and continental titles, positions him well for this task.
Qulification
The Atlas Lions qualified automatically for CHAN 2024 as the only representative so far from the North African Football Union zone.
They enter the tournament sharing the record for most titles (2) with DR Congo, making their fifth appearance in the competition since their debut in South Africa in 2014.
DR Congo
Nickname: The Leopards
Appearances: 7 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2022, 2024)
Titles: 2 (2009, 2016)
Coach: Otis N’Goma
Otis N’Goma brings a modern tactical approach to DR Congo, emphasising disciplined defence and swift counterattacks. His preference for ball possession, quick transitions, and adaptability ensures his team remains competitive against the toughest opponents.
Qualification
The Leopards demonstrated their resilience during qualification. After being held to a 1-1 draw by Chad in the first leg, they turned the tables with a convincing 3-1 home victory to secure their spot in the tournament.
Zambia
Nickname: Chipolopolo
Appearances: 5 (2009, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024)
Best Finish: 3rd (2009)
FIFA Ranking: 83
Qualification
Zambia qualified as a result of a walkover following the pulling out of Mozambique.
Previous TotalEnergies CAF CHAN performance:
The 2024 finals will mark Zambia’s fifth appearance at the continental showpiece, with their last appearance being in 2020.
Their best performance came in the inaugural edition, where they finished in the top three with a bronze medal following their 2-1 victory over Senegal.
Following their third-place finish in 2009, Zambia have since advanced from the group stages in all their appearances (2016, 2018, 2020) but failed to advance further than the quarter-final.
Angola
Nickname: The Sable Antelopes
Appearances: 5 (2011, 2016, 2018, 2022, 2024)
FIFA Ranking: 85
Qualification
Angola had a tricky opponent in Lesotho, who have been on an impressive rise of form of late.
The Sable Antelopes advanced to the finals after overcoming Lesotho over two legs to secure their fifth TotalEnergies CAF CHAN appearance.
Head coach: Pedro Gonçalves
Angola will be under the tutelage of Pedro Gonçalves, a man who has grown in leaps and bounds over the years with the Angolan national team.
The 48-year-old caused a number of upsets in Côte d’Ivoire, where he guided Angola to an impressive quarter-final finish at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
