The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to significantly raise the prize money for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) has prompted several teams, including Egypt and Algeria, to reconsider their earlier withdrawal from the tournament.
The competition is scheduled to take place from February 1 to 28 in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced earlier this week that the winner of the tournament would now receive a record $3.5 million in prize money, a move aimed at boosting the tournament’s appeal and commercial viability.
This increase comes as CHAN faced challenges in marketing and participation, with 15 teams initially withdrawing, citing scheduling conflicts and domestic league commitments.
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) called for an emergency meeting to deliberate on re-entering the competition.
Reports indicate that the EFA is considering sending its U23 team to represent the nation. Algeria, which also withdrew citing similar reasons, is reportedly holding internal discussions to revisit its decision.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana is also in discussions to participate, potentially fielding a junior team.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) had previously withdrawn due to a congested Premier Soccer League schedule, but the financial incentives and the opportunity for its U20 team to gain international exposure could prompt a reversal.
The timing of CHAN aligns well for South Africa’s U20 team, Amajita, as they prepare for the U20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire in April 2025. However, SAFA has yet to issue a formal comment on the matter.
Plans for a mini-tournament involving nations such as Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, and others like Gabon, Malawi, and Comoros have been floated to decide the two remaining wildcard entries to CHAN 2024.
It remains to be seen how many teams will be confirmed by the time the official CHAN 2024 draw happens but the absence of key teams from North Africa and South Africa had posed significant challenges for the tournament’s commercial success and broadcasting appeal.
The official draw for CHAN is set to take place on January 15, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya.
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