Is CHAN Facing It's Decline?

The African Nations Championship (CHAN), a tournament designed exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues, has long struggled to capture the imagination of fans and nations alike since its inception in 2009. 

However, the situation seems to be worsening, as 15 African nations have opted out of the qualifiers for the 2024 edition, raising serious questions about the tournament's future.

The next CHAN is scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28, 2025, in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This edition is intended to serve as a preparatory event for these nations ahead of hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite these intentions, the lack of enthusiasm and widespread withdrawals suggest that CHAN may be approaching its twilight.

This year’s qualifiers, held in November and December, saw an unprecedented number of countries pulling out. Among those absent were Algeria, South Africa, Botswana, Cape Verde, Comoros, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Mauritius, Malawi, São Tomé, Seychelles, and Tunisia. Eritrea and Somalia had already announced their non-participation earlier. Altogether, 15 nations refrained from taking part, leaving a noticeable void in the competition.

The reasons behind these withdrawals vary but often point to logistical and scheduling issues. CAF’s late announcement of match schedules left many federations scrambling to adjust their domestic league calendars, forcing them to prioritize local competitions over CHAN qualifiers.

The scheduling chaos has not only affected the tournament but has also disrupted domestic leagues. For instance, in Rwanda, league matches were postponed to accommodate CHAN qualifiers. 

This adjustment pushed the conclusion of the first half of the season, originally slated to end before the year’s close, to January 12, 2025. Similar disruptions have been reported across other participating nations.

Saïd Ali Saïd Athouman, President of the Comoros Football Federation and a member of the CHAN organizing committee, shed light on the challenges during an interview with Le Monde Afrique. 

He criticized CAF’s delayed communication, stating, “CAF only announced [on September 16] the dates for the final tournament and the qualifiers, which created challenges for many associations. Domestic leagues had already started, making it difficult for most.”

Lyes Ghariani, Vice President of Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis, echoed similar concerns. Following a late-November meeting, Tunisia decided against participating in CHAN, citing the scheduling conflicts as the main reason. “The dates were communicated too late,” Ghariani explained.

Perhaps the most striking withdrawal is Algeria, which hosted the previous CHAN edition and reached the final. Their decision not to participate underscores the growing disinterest in the tournament. Similarly, heavyweights South Africa and Egypt also skipped the qualifiers, further highlighting the competition’s diminishing appeal.

As CHAN grapples with these challenges, its relevance and survival are under threat. The tournament was conceived as a platform to showcase local talent, but dwindling participation and logistical hurdles have cast a shadow over its future. For CAF, addressing these issues and restoring confidence in CHAN will be essential to ensure its continuation and success in the years to come.

15 Nations Skipped CHAN 2024 Qualifiers