West African Football Union qualifiers draw

By Robert Mutasi 

With the knowledge of what teams will go to the tournament, the WAFU B zone is set to stage some thrilling qualifiers.

This year's edition will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, with teams from WAFU B looking ahead to securing places in the prestigious competition. 

A highly anticipated first-round tie between Togo and Benin will get the qualifying rounds underway.

This will be a two-legged match-up, with the first leg scheduled between October 25 and 27, and the return leg scheduled between November 1 and 3.

The winner of this encounter will advance to the second round, where it will face another titanic battle with Niger.

The second-round matches, featuring the giants of West African football, will be played in December.

It is here that Côte d'Ivoire will face Burkina Faso between December 20 and 22 in one of the fiercest contests, considering the pedigree of both teams in African football. 

Perhaps one of the most thrilling matches of the qualifiers will see Ghana come up against Nigeria in a West African derby.

The two footballing powerhouses are playing not only for pride but also for a cherished spot in the final tournament.

Second-leg matches for these games are scheduled between December 27 and 29, with fans across the region keeping their fingers crossed to see which teams emerge as winners.

By format, winners of Match 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 will qualify directly for the 2024 African Nations Championship.

CHAN has been a breeding ground, over the years, for some of Africa's finest, as the competition is reserved for players who ply their trade domestically.

This qualifying campaign shows that for the nations of WAFU B, there is a possibility not only to compete on the continent's stage but also to show one's local talents, who might afterward make the jump into international prominence.

Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire have shown good performances in past editions of CHAN and AFCON.

While Burkina Faso and Niger also showed remarkable improvements in these years, the road to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania 2024 is not going to be a simple ride at all. 

The West African football fans are in for a revolution of scintillating and nail-biting fixtures as the race for CHAN qualification gets underway.