CHAN 2016: Nigeria, Angola on course

Nigeria and Angola took a big step towards the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in Rwanda after emphatic wins in their qualifiers over the weekend.

Angola recorded a 2-0 win away against South Africa in the first leg of their Southern Zone tie while Nigeria also looked solid in their zone with a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso.

CHAN is played between national teams made up exclusively of locally based players who are active in their national championships.

Goals from Mateus Da Costa and Manuel Afonso secured the win for the visitors leaving the home crowd at the Rand Stadium stunned by the result.

It was a crucial win for Angola. The prize for the overall winners is a place in the finals in Rwanda in 2016.

Also in the Southern Zone, Zambia were emphatic 3-0 winners over Mozambique in their home leg in Ndola.

Togo lost 0-2 away to Niger in the first leg of their Zone West B.

The Northern Zone is played in a mini-league format, featuring title-holders Libya, Morocco and Tunisia - the sides face each other home and away and the top two finishers in the table go through.

The Democratic Republic of Congo, winners of the maiden African Nations Championship in 2009, booked a finals place after Central African Republic withdrew .

The 15 teams to reach the finals, to join hosts Rwanda, will be known by October 25.

CHAN 2016 qualifiers

Results at a glance

Ghana 2, Cote d’Ivoire 1

Nigeria 2, Burkina Faso 0

Niger 2, Togo 0

Zambia 3, Mozambique 0

South Africa 0, Angola 2