{"id":1100684,"date":"2022-05-26T21:24:19","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T21:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/05\/26\/qualifying-draw-sets-up-potential-ghana-v-nigeria-clash\/"},"modified":"2022-05-26T21:24:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-26T21:24:19","slug":"qualifying-draw-sets-up-potential-ghana-v-nigeria-clash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/05\/26\/qualifying-draw-sets-up-potential-ghana-v-nigeria-clash\/","title":{"rendered":"Qualifying draw sets up potential Ghana v Nigeria clash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Black Stars B coach Annor Walker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The draw for the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers has been held in Cairo and sees a potential clash between Nigeria and Ghana for a place at the finals.<\/p>\n

The seeding system for the tournament was based on the results of the last three editions of CHAN, meaning that Ghana and Benin were the lowest-ranked sides and will face each other in regionally-based qualifiers.<\/p>\n

The aggregate winner of that game will face Nigeria in the final round in Western Zone B.<\/p>\n

A total of 46 nations were entered in the draw for the expanded tournament for locally-based players which will feature 18 teams for the first time.<\/p>\n

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Earlier this week the Confederation of African Football (Caf)\u00a0announced the increase in the number of teams\u00a0from 16, leading to an unusual format for the finals in Algeria next year.<\/p>\n

Caf says the finals will have five groups; three of which will have four nations, while the other two will be comprised of just three teams.<\/p>\n

It means the top two from the four-team groups will be joined in the quarter-finals by the winners of the other two pools.<\/p>\n

Hosts Algeria, defending champions Morocco and fellow North Africans Libya are already assured of spots at the tournament.<\/p>\n

Zimbabwe were included in the draw for the Southern Zone qualifiers despite currently being banned from global football by Fifa and having been\u00a0thrown out of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn case the suspension of Zimbabwe FA is not lifted two weeks before their first match, they will be considered loser and eliminated from the competition,\u201d Caf explained.<\/p>\n

The delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the World Cup in Qatar in November and December seem to have had a knock-on effect on the CHAN finals, which are scheduled for 8-31 January 2023.<\/p>\n

All qualifying ties are set to be played over two legs, with the winners on aggregate progressing.<\/p>\n

First round first leg matches will be played between 22 and 24 July with the return legs a week later.<\/p>\n

Those zones with just a single round, and the second rounds in the remainder of zones, will be held between 26 and 28 August, with the return legs also a week later.<\/p>\n

CHAN 2022 qualifying \u2013 Northern Zone<\/p>\n

Two-time defending champions Morocco and Libya were the only nations to enter the qualifiers and so will be at the finals along with hosts Algeria.<\/p>\n

Egypt once again opted not to take part in the tournament while Tunisia were suspended after their late withdrawal from the 2020 qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n

Western Zone A<\/p>\n

All nine teams from region entered to take part in the qualifiers, and three teams will qualify.<\/p>\n

First Round:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Liberia v Senegal<\/li>\n
  • Sierra Leone v Cape Verde<\/li>\n
  • The Gambia v Guinea-Bissau<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Second Round:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    • Liberia\/Senegal v Guinea<\/li>\n
    • Sierra Leone\/Cape Verde v Mali<\/li>\n
    • The Gambia\/Guinea-Bissau v Mauritania<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Western Zone B<\/p>\n

      All seven teams from the region entered, and three teams will qualify.<\/p>\n

      Round one:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Round two:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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      • Ivory Coast v Burkina Faso<\/li>\n
      • Togo v Niger<\/li>\n
      • Ghana\/Benin v Nigeria<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Central Zone<\/p>\n

        A total of six teams entered, and three will qualify.<\/p>\n

        Sao Tome e Principe were suspended from the CHAN after withdrawing from the 2020 qualifiers, while Gabon opted not to enter.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Central African Republic v Congo<\/li>\n
        • Equatorial Guinea v Cameroon<\/li>\n
        • Chad v DR Congo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Central East Zone<\/p>\n

          A total of nine teams entered, and three teams will qualify. Eritrea and Kenya opted not to enter.<\/p>\n

          Round one:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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          • Ethiopia v South Sudan<\/li>\n
          • Somalia v Tanzania<\/li>\n
          • Burundi v Djibouti<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Round two:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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            • Ethiopia\/South Sudan v Rwanda<\/li>\n
            • Somalia\/Tanzania v Uganda<\/li>\n
            • Burundi\/Djibouti v Sudan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Southern Zone<\/p>\n

              A total of 12 teams entered, and three will qualify. Lesotho opted not to enter while\u00a0Namibia were part of Caf\u2019s original draw procedures\u00a0but were not included in the final draw.<\/p>\n

              Round one:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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              • Mauritius v Angola<\/li>\n
              • Comoros v South Africa<\/li>\n
              • Botswana v Eswatini<\/li>\n
              • Seychelles v Madagascar<\/li>\n
              • Malawi v Zimbabwe<\/li>\n
              • Mozambique v Zambia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                Round two:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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                • Mauritius\/Angola v Comoros\/South Africa<\/li>\n
                • Botswana\/Eswatini\u00a0v<\/strong>\u00a0Seychelles\/Madagascar<\/li>\n
                • Malawi\/Zimbabwe\u00a0v<\/strong>\u00a0Mozambique\/Zambia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  <\/p>\n