CHAN 2025: Six Nations March Into Quarter-Finals as Group Stage Drama Unfolds
The 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) is heating up, with six countries already booking their places in the quarter-finals.
The qualified nations are Uganda, Algeria, Morocco, Madagascar, Kenya, and Tanzania.
On Monday, the final Group C fixtures produced high drama. Uganda drew 3-3 with South Africa in a pulsating clash to seal top spot with seven points from four games. Their resilience and attacking flair once again showed why they are considered one of the dark horses of this tournament.
Algeria finished second with six points, edging out South Africa on goal difference. Despite also tallying six points, Molefi Ntseki’s men fell short and crashed out, a bitter pill for Bafana Bafana supporters who believed this could be their year.
Meanwhile, Guinea (4 points) and Niger (2 points) bowed out of the competition after struggling to make their mark in a fiercely competitive group.
Opinion:
The qualification of Uganda and Algeria adds spice to an already thrilling tournament. Uganda’s story, in particular, is one to watch — a team once underestimated now sits comfortably among the continent’s elite at CHAN. Their unbeaten run in Group C reflects not just tactical discipline but also growing confidence that they can dream beyond the quarter-finals.
For Algeria, progression feels more like survival than dominance, but tournament football is about timing, and the Desert Foxes have the pedigree to rise when it matters most.
On the flip side, South Africa’s exit is a major talking point. A team with talent and tradition, undone by goal difference, serves as a reminder that in football, margins are razor-thin.
As the quarter-finals loom, fans should expect the unexpected. The presence of surprise packages like Madagascar, Kenya, and Tanzania ensures that this year’s CHAN will not just be about traditional powerhouses. Instead, it’s shaping up to be a celebration of African football’s depth, unpredictability, and magic.
In short: the giants may have history, but the underdogs have fire — and that’s what makes CHAN 2025 unmissable.
