The first leg of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers showcased thrilling matches throughout the continent, as numerous away teams achieved vital wins. The matches took place between December 20 and 22, 2024, paving the way for highly competitive return fixtures.
Guinea kicked off the action with a commanding 4-1 win overGuinea-Bissau on Friday, December 20. The following day, Angola impressed with a 2-0 away victory against Lesotho, while Zambia dominated Mozambique in a 3-0 triumph on the road. Madagascar also secured a valuable 2-0 away win against Eswatini, and DR Congo showed resilience by managing a 1-1 draw away to Chad.
Sunday's matches brought more drama and surprises. Côte d'Ivoire took a commanding 2-0 lead over Burkina Faso, with Oumar Konaté netting both goals. South Sudan edged past Rwanda in a thrilling 3-2 encounter at the Juba National Stadium, giving themselves a slight advantage for the return fixture.
Sudan impressed with a 2-0 victory over Ethiopia in a match played in Libya, demonstrating their intent to qualify for the finals. Cameroon secured an important 1-0 away win against Central African Republic, while Mauritania narrowly defeated Mali 1-0.
The clash between Ghana and Nigeria, dubbed the "Jollof Derby," ended in a goalless draw at the Accra Sports Stadium, leaving everything to play for in the second leg. Defending champions Senegal were held to a 1-1 draw by Liberia in Monrovia, with Seydina Mbaye scoring for Senegal before Bility equalized late for the hosts.
Other results saw Equatorial Guinea and Congo play out a 0-0 draw, while Togo and Niger also finished 1-1.
The return legs are scheduled between December 25-29, 2024. With several teams holding advantages from their away performances, the second leg promises to be filled with drama as teams fight for a spot in the CHAN 2024 finals, set to be hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from February 1-28, 2025.
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