The first round of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 qualifiers saw Togo, South Sudan, and Eswatini claim significant first-leg wins over the weekend, establishing a solid foundation as they aim to advance to the next stage.
In Lomé, Togo made an impressive start, defeating Benin 2-0. Abalo’s quick strike in the 11th minute set the tone, and Avotor sealed the win with a late goal, giving Togo a comfortable cushion for the November 1 return leg in Benin.
Meanwhile, South Sudan capitalized on home advantage in Juba, beating Kenya 2-0 after a goalless first half.
Ezibon Ebon opened the scoring in the 50th minute, and Yohanna Juma added a second in the 68th minute.
With midfielder Kenneth Muguna absent, Kenya will look to regroup for the return fixture in Uganda on November 3.
Eswatini’s emphatic 3-0 away victory against Zimbabwe places them in an ideal position heading into their second leg at home, as they aim to build on this commanding lead.
Elsewhere, Djibouti edged Rwanda 1-0, securing a narrow lead to defend in Kigali.
Sudan also held off Tanzania with a 1-0 win in Nouakchott, thanks to Mohammed Abdul Rahman’s decisive goal in the 23rd minute, providing a slight edge ahead of the second leg.
In an intense matchup, Liberia defeated Sierra Leone 2-1 in Freetown. Lawrence Kumeh scored early for Liberia, with Sierra Leone equalizing through Kalokoh Suffian in the 22nd minute.
However, an own goal by Sierra Leone’s Alhpa Kabia in the 58th minute handed Liberia the victory.
The second-leg encounters, scheduled for November 1-3, promise intense action as teams look to secure spots in the tournament’s next round, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in February 2025.
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