CHAN 2024: 9 Teams That Have Already Packed Their Bags as Knockouts Take Shape

The African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 has reached its final stages of the group phase, with a number of teams having already packed their bags.

The tournament, hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, has been a showcase of local talent, but for some, the journey has come to a disappointing end.

In Group A, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia have all been knocked out. Group B saw Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and the Central African Republic fall short.

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Meanwhile, in Group C, Guinea has been eliminated, and Niger is confirmed to be out, with their final group match against Algeria still to be played. Group D has also seen one major casualty, Nigeria.

Group A, hosted in Nairobi, was a tough battle from the start. Hosts Kenya defied expectations to top the group with 10 points, while two-time champions Morocco finished second with nine. This left some notable teams on the outside looking in.

Zambia had a campaign not to be forgotten easily, finishing bottom of the group with zero points, a shocking result for a team that had previously reached the CHAN semi-finals.

Their struggles were evident throughout, marked by a lack of cutting edge in attack and defensive vulnerabilities. They started their campaign with a 2-0 loss against DR Congo before falling 2-1 to Angola.

The Chipolopolo proceeded to lose 3-1 to Morocco before their final match against Kenya, which also saw them fail to impress with a 1-0 defeat.

Angola also failed to make it to the knockout stage. Their campaign was a mix of promising moments and inconsistency.

They managed a respectable 1-1 draw against Kenya, but ultimately could not string together enough positive results. A defeat to Morocco and a crucial 2-0 loss to DR Congo sealed their fate.

Perhaps the most surprising elimination from this group was that of DR Congo. The two-time CHAN champions, known for their continental prowess, finished third with a respectable six points.

However, in a five-team group where only two could advance, their performance was not enough. Their journey included victories over Zambia and Angola, but a defeat to hosts Kenya and a final-match loss to Morocco ultimately sealed their fate.

In Group B, hosted in Tanzania, the race for qualification was equally intense. Tanzania and Madagascar secured the two knockout spots, leaving a trail of eliminated teams.

Burkina Faso's campaign never truly got off the ground. They finished with just three points from their four matches. Their single victory came against the Central African Republic, but defeats to Tanzania and Madagascar, along with a narrow loss to Mauritania, meant they bowed out with a game to spare.

The Stallions lacked creativity and a clinical finish in front of goal, and their early departure is a reminder of the tactical demands of the CHAN tournament.

Mauritania's exit is particularly heartbreaking as they finished with seven points, the same as Madagascar, but fell short on goal difference.

They secured a draw against Madagascar and victories against Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.

The Central African Republic was one of the earliest casualties. Making their tournament debut, the ‘Wild Beasts’ found the going tough.

They managed a single point from a goalless draw with Tanzania but suffered losses to Burkina Faso and Mauritania.

Their inexperience at this level was evident, and while they showed flashes of promise, they were ultimately outmatched.

While Group D has seen the elimination of one of the continent's biggest footballing nations, Group C has a final match that will determine the final knockout spots.

Nigeria's exit from Group D was arguably the biggest shock of the tournament. The Super Eagles B team, a perennial contender, suffered a woeful start with a 1-0 loss to Senegal and a surprising 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Sudan.

With zero points after two matches, their elimination was confirmed with a game to spare.

In Group C, the permutations are still being worked out, but two teams are already out. Guinea has been eliminated after losing two of their three matches.

They started with a promising 1-0 win over Niger, but a crushing 3-0 defeat to hosts Uganda and a 2-1 loss to South Africa ended their hopes of advancing.

Meanwhile, Niger is also out. They have lost their first two matches, to Guinea and Uganda, respectively.

Their final group match against Algeria is on the horizon, but even a victory will not be enough for them to progress to the next round.

While they have no hope of qualifying, their performance in this final match could still have a significant impact on the rest of the group.

A win for Niger could potentially create a scenario where a draw between Uganda and South Africa would see both of those teams through, while an Algerian win would secure their passage.