AFCON vs CHAN: Clearing the Confusion Between Africa's Premier Football Tournaments

Both the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and African Nations Championship (CHAN) are the two biggest football competitions in Africa, holding every two years in an alternate manner. In its inaugural tournament, CHAN had only eight teams but since grown to include 18 sides.

Many assume that both terms to be synonymous. Confusion about which is which came to the fore recently when CAF announced a postponement of CHAN to August 2025 instead of the originally scheduled commencement date of February 1 to 28, 2025. It gets more confusing as the winner in either competition gets crowned as an African champion.

However, the difference between them is very stark given that CHAN is the exclusive tournament of players from the domestic league. What this means is that teams participating in CHAN can only pick Africa-based players who play in their respective countries’ national leagues. Therefore, any African player playing internationally (in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Australia) is not eligible to be fielded.

On the other hand, the African Cup of Nations allows for the selection of any players, including those playing locally and abroad. In this article, Sportblot will be exploring the differences between CHAN and AFCON, examining their unique characteristics and how they shape the landscape of African football.

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AFCON vs CHAN: Distinct Divergence Points

1. Eligibility Criteria

It has been established that the most significant rule that distinguishes CHAN from AFCON is the qualification of players that can participate in each of them. For instance, Yaya Toure, who plays domestically in England for Manchester City, is not eligible to play in the African Nations Championship.

• In the Africa Cup of Nations, any player who is a citizen of the participating nation is eligible to represent their country, regardless of whether they play domestically or abroad. This includes players plying their trade in top European leagues such as the English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, or France's Ligue 1. As a result, the Africa Cup of Nations typically features a mix of high-profile players, many of whom play for top European clubs.
• The key rule for the African Nations Championship is that only players who play in their home country's domestic league are eligible to compete. For instance, if a player is based in a European or Asian club, they would not be eligible for the CHAN tournament, even if they are an internationally capped player. This limitation means that CHAN predominantly showcases local talent, with national teams being made up of players from within the country's domestic league system.

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2. Prize Money

The CHAN prize money has increased since 2020 when the winners, Morocco, received $1,250,000. Two years later, the amount has increased to $2 million when Senegal won. CAF has now hiked the winners’ prize money for the 2025 African Nations Championship to $3.5 million, the highest in the tournament’s history. The total prize pool has also risen to $10.4 million, a 32 per cent increase from the $7.9 million awarded at the last edition held in Algeria in 2023.

On the other hand, the 2021 AFCON winner, Senegal, received $5 million for coming tops in the competition in Cameroon. The amount saw an increase of $500,000 because Egypt received $4.5 million when it won the tournament in 2019. The winners of the AFCON 2023 tournament in Côte d'Ivoire receive $7 million prize money, a 40 per cent increase from the previous sum. This has remained the extant prize money even for the 2025 edition.

3. Driving Purpose: 

AFCON focuses on showcasing the continent’s football exports including stars such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Riyad Mahrez and co who play in foreign leagues. It features some of the best players from Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world. More so, AFCON is held every two years as the continental championship for national teams. The tournament is often seen as Africa's equivalent of the UEFA European Championship (Euro).

CHAN is meant to give players in African leagues an opportunity to play at an international stage, allowing them to be scouted by the domestic leagues of other countries. It presents the platform for players who may not have the chance to play in international leagues to showcase their talents. This Championship also allows teams to build cohesion and pride around homegrown talent, which can eventually translate into success at other tournaments like the AFCON or FIFA World Cup. Additionally, CHAN highlights the need to grow grassroots football while developing local infrastructure in the process.

4. Age: 

Although they both came from the stables of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Africa Cup of Nations is the older of the two tournaments, with its inaugural edition taking place in 1957 in Sudan. CHAN, in contrast, is a much younger tournament. After conceptualizing the idea in 2007, CAF approved and confirmed CHAN in January 2008, with Ivory Coast selected to host the first-ever CHAN tournament the next year. Meanwhile, to avoid clashing with AFCON, CAF switched CHAN to even-numbered years in 2014.

5. Tournament Format

Although both AFCON and CHAN share some similarities in terms of structure and format, there are notable differences in the organisation and the number of teams involved. For starters, while the one has 18 participating teams, the other has 24 since 2019 when it was expanded from 16 teams.

AFCON sides are divided into six groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-place finishers, advance to the knockout stage, culminating in a final match to determine the champion. AFCON is a larger and more inclusive tournament, featuring top footballing nations such as Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast, as well as other emerging footballing nations from across Africa.

CHAN, by comparison, is usually contested by 16 teams, although the number can vary. The teams are divided into four groups, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout rounds. CHAN features a similar structure to AFCON but is limited in size and scope due to its focus on local talent rather than the continent's elite players. As a result, the competition is seen as less intense compared to AFCON, but it still provides an exciting opportunity for players who might otherwise struggle to gain international exposure.

6. Media Coverage and Popularity

AFCON enjoys far more media coverage and global attention than CHAN due to the presence of top-tier players, international broadcast deals, and a larger fanbase. The tournament's historical significance and the star power of many of its players ensure that it garners widespread media attention, especially in Europe and the Middle East.

CHAN, while important within the African continent, typically receives less international media coverage. Its focus on local players, as opposed to the continent's biggest stars, limits its global appeal. However, it is still a highly anticipated event for African football fans and plays a crucial role in the development of African football talent.

Conclusion: Complementary Competitions

All said, AFCON is more about showcasing the continent’s established elite footballers while CHAN plays an essential role in strengthening the foundation of African football by providing opportunities for local players to shine. The former acts as a celebration of African football at its highest level and is a key event for those seeking to see Africa's best players in action. CHAN has lived up to expectation by helping to elevate local leagues and promote domestic talent. The continental competitions foster a sense of pride in ourselves. 

CHAN demonstrates that people are truly invested in local football, despite European leagues having a stronghold across Africa. Complementarily, both the African Cup of Nations and the African Nations Championship offer a dynamic and multifaceted view of African football, highlighting the continent’s rich diversity and immense potential. Whether it’s the international stars of AFCON or the rising local talents of CHAN, both competitions contribute to the growth and excitement of African football on the world stage.