The roll call for the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya is all but one team shy, with 14 qualified teams confirming their places alongside host Kenya at the weekend.
The remaining slot will be decided on Tuesday, 22 August 2017 in Conakry when Guinea hosts Senegal in the second leg of the West A Zone final round.
The qualification was without surprises with holders DR Congo the biggest casualty, denied by neighbours, Congo. A 1-1 draw in Kinshasa ensured that the Leopards, also winners of the maiden edition in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire miss out on the finals for the first time since its inception.
Another casualty on the road is Ghana, edged by northern neighbous Burkina Faso, after a 2-1 loss in the return in Kumasi saw ‘Les Etalons’ progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
Last year’s losing finalists, Mali, failed to make it four in a row after a shocking lone goal loss to Mauritania saw the latter advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Equatorial Guinea and Namibia are the only newcomers amongst the qualified teams just as host Kenya for the final tournament scheduled for 12 January to 4 February 2018.
Qualified teams
Host: Kenya
Central Zone: Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea
Central-East Zone: Sudan, Uganda
North Zone: Libya, Morocco
South Zone: Angola, Namibia, Zambia
West A Zone: Mauritania, Guinea or Senegal
West B Zone: Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria
Former winners: Libya (2014)
Former finalist: Angola (2011)
Previous appearances
3: Côte d’Ivoire (2009, 2011, 2016), Uganda (2011, 2014, 2016)
2: Angola (2011, 2016), Nigeria (2014, 2016), Zambia (2009, 2016), Cameroon (2011, 2016), Libya (2009, 2014)
1: Burkina Faso (2014), Congo (2014), Mauritania (2014), Sudan (2011)
First participation in 2018
Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Namibia
Ranking
Edition | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
2009 | DR Congo | Ghana | Zambia |
2011 | Tunisia | Angola | Sudan |
2014 | Libya | Ghana | Nigeria |
2016 | DR Congo | Mali | Cote d’Ivoire |