Two nations — Kenya and Tanzania — have sealed their spots in the quarter-finals of the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), with matches still to be played in the group stage.
Kenya confirmed their qualification from Group A on Thursday after DR Congo recorded a 2-0 victory over Angola. The result means the Harambee Stars, who currently top the group with seven points from three matches, cannot be displaced from one of the qualifying positions.
The East African side’s impressive run has seen them record 1-0 victories over both Morocco and DR Congo earlier in the group stage, giving them the decisive head-to-head advantage over the pair. Morocco and DR Congo now sit second and third respectively with six points each and will clash in a decisive final group fixture this weekend, with the winner joining Kenya in the knockout stage. Angola, meanwhile, have been eliminated from the tournament.
Over in Group B, Tanzania became the first team to secure a place in the last eight, maintaining a perfect record of three wins from three matches to sit top with nine points. With one group game left to play, the Taifa Stars are already guaranteed passage to the quarter-finals and will be aiming to preserve their unbeaten run as they fine-tune for the tougher knockout rounds.
The CHAN tournament, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), features national teams made up exclusively of players plying their trade in their domestic leagues. This year’s edition has so far delivered intense competition, with several groups still wide open and knockout stage places yet to be decided.
With Kenya and Tanzania leading the charge, East Africa will have at least two representatives in the quarter-finals, and possibly more, depending on the results of the remaining group stage matches. Football fans across the continent will now be watching closely as the race for the trophy intensifies.
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