Here’s the difference between CHAN and AFCON competition

The delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN 2024) is a biennial men's football competition reserved for players who play in their national domestic leagues, which is currently being jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

This year’s edition of CHAN 2024 tournament will be heading to the quarter-finals after group stage matches end on Tuesday.

Football giants Nigeria, Zambia and South Africa failed to qualify.

In African football, CHAN and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are the premier tournaments of the sport. But they bear notable differences despite both being organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Promote domestic football

AFCON is and remains the most prestigious of the two since its inception in 1957.

CHAN was introduced in 2009 and only features players who ply their trade in domestic leagues. The aim is to promote domestic football development by encouraging national associations to invest in domestic leagues and provide exposure to home-based players.

“It is a showcase of Africa’s best homegrown players, often providing a springboard for emerging stars to secure moves abroad,” CAF said in an explainer.

For instance, Kenya’s midfielder Mohammed Bajaber was selected to feature at the CHAN 2024 but got ruled out five days to the start of the tournament after he joined Tanzanian giants, Simba Sports Club, rendering him ineligible.