Tanzania to face Sudan in CHAN qualifiers

TANZANIA: TANZANIA will play Sudan in the first round of the CECAFA 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, according to the draw held in Cairo, Egypt yesterday.

Despite Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda automatically earning qualification to host the CHAN finals from February 1st to 28th next year, they have been tasked to engage in the qualifying fixtures.

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In other games for CECAFA-CHAN qualifiers, Burundi will host Somalia and Ethiopia against Eritrea, South Sudan face Kenya and Djibouti welcome Rwanda.

In the second round, the winner of the Burundi against Somalia match will play Uganda who have been sidelined from taking part in the first round.

Likewise, the winner of the Ethiopia and Eritrea encounter will take on the winner to be produced between Sudan versus Tanzania encounter.

Similarly, the triumphant side between South Sudan against Kenya will interface with the successful side between Djibouti against Rwanda duel.

However, according to yesterday’s draw, the first round of qualifiers will be played between October 25th and 27th as well as November 1st and 3rd, while the second-round clashes will be held between December 20th to 22nd and December 27th to 29th respectively.

Meanwhile, this will be the eighth edition of CHAN which features national teams consisting of players who play in the domestic leagues of their respective countries.

Senegal are the current CHAN champions, and they clinched the title after defeating hosts Algeria 5-4 in post-match penalties after a goalless draw in the normal period of play.

The finals were held at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on February 4th, 2023, and it was the first time for Senegal to win the lucrative CHAN title.

So far, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Morocco are the two most successful teams, having each won two CHAN titles, whereas Tunisia and Libya have grabbed it once apiece.