Ghana and Nigeria set to renew rivalry in CHAN qualifiers

West African rivals Ghana and Nigeria will face off in the qualifying rounds for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The two teams have been drawn in the same regional zone, ensuring a highly anticipated showdown.

The CHAN tournament, which exclusively features domestic-based players from across the African continent, will be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from January to February 2024.

Ghana and Nigeria have a history of competitive encounters, with their previous meeting ahead of the 2022 CHAN finals resulting in a 2-2 draw that was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout in favour of Ghana.

The 2024 CHAN tournament will feature a total of 19 teams, an increase from the 18-team format of the 2022 edition. The format for the tournament itself remains to be announced.

The qualifying rounds for the CHAN will take place in two stages, with both rounds being played on a home-and-away basis. The second round is scheduled to conclude between December 27th and 29th.

While the North African region is represented by Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, guaranteeing their places in the finals, reigning CHAN champions Senegal will face either Sierra Leone or Liberia in the second round of qualifying.

CAF has increased the prize money for the 2024 CHAN tournament by 60%, with the eventual winners set to receive a substantial cash reward of $2 million.

The hosting of the 2024 CHAN finals in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda is being seen as a significant test event for the East African nations as they prepare to jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.