The 2009 African Nations Championship was an international football tournament held in the Ivory Coast from 22 February to 8 March 2009. The eight national teams involved in the tournament were required to register a squad of 23 players, including three goalkeepers. Unlike the Africa Cup of Nations, this tournament exclusively requires players to be registered to a club within their country to be eligible. Expatriate players, even if they play in Africa, cannot participate in the event.