CHAN 2020: review of the five previous editions
The Congolese, winners of CHAN 2009. AFP - ISSOUF SANOGO
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
6 min
The sixth African Nations Championship (CHAN 2020) takes place from January 16 to February 7 in Cameroon.
The opportunity to return to the first five editions of CHAN.
Publicity
Read more
CHAN 2009: a successful first test
In September 2007, the African Football Confederation (CAF) decided to create a new competition to raise the level of players playing in African national championships and also give them more visibility.
A few months later, Côte d'Ivoire was chosen to organize a first edition with 8 teams.
Abidjan and Bouaké welcome this CHAN 2009 in a good mood, even if the local Elephants pitifully left in the first round.
On the lawns, the level of play from one match to another is extremely uneven and only three teams stand out: Zambia coached by young Hervé Renard, Ghana with some future Black Stars executives like Agyemang Badu or Harrison Afful, and especially the DRC.
In the final, the Leopards, who lost 3-0 to the Ghanaians in the group stage, took their 2-0 revenge on the Black Stars.
Thanks to the coronation of Robert Kidiaba, Pamphile Mihayo and Trésor Mputu, the Congolese pride themselves on this new tournament.
CHAN 2011: the transition to 16 teams
For this second edition, CAF takes the decision to double the number of participating teams and that Sudan will host CHAN 2011. Between stadiums not completely renovated and lawns in poor condition, the Sudanese are however not really ready.
On the pitch side, the level of play from one match to another remains uneven, even if it was generally higher than compared to CHAN 2009. Some future pros in Europe take the opportunity to reveal themselves to the general public, such as Algerians Essaïd Belkalem and Hilal Soudani and especially Tunisians Aymen Abdennour and Youssef Msakni.
Tunisia, above the lot, dismisses the two other favorites of the tournament, Algeria in the semi-final and especially the DRC after a quarter-final full of tension.
In the final, the Carthage Eagles dominate strong Angolans 3-0.
Note that this CHAN in Sudan will remain the first major continental competition contested by Niger.
A Mena stopped on penalties, in quarters, by the Sudanese.
CHAN 2014: an edition that ran out of steam
This CHAN was to take place in 2013 and in Libya.
But, between the transition of the CAN to odd years and the Libyan civil war, this third final phase is finally postponed to 2014 and relocated to South Africa.
The reception of South Africans, who have just organized the 2010 World Cup and the 2013 African Cup of Nations in quick succession, is frankly timid.
A disinterest reinforced by the premature elimination of Bafana Bafana.
However, thanks to the quality of the infrastructures, the start of the tournament was very good.
He even gave birth to the most beautiful meeting in the history of the competition, a 4-3 victory for Nigerians in the quarterfinals who were nevertheless led 3-0 by Morocco.
It is from the semi-finals that things take a turn for the worse.
The local players, not used to playing so many high-level matches in such a short day, mark… the pace.
Results, sluggish 0-0 and penalty shootouts followed one another until the unexpected coronation of a Libya led by Spaniard Javier Clemente.
The Libyans indeed achieve the feat of winning the CHAN 2014 thanks to a victory in the first round then five consecutive draws ...
For the Burundians and Mauritanians, who were playing the first major football tournament in their history, this third edition will have been precious.
CHAN 2016: the DRC does it again
Back to the East for this fourth edition, with a now well-established formula.
Enthusiastic Rwandans welcome this CHAN 2016. Their momentum was nevertheless stopped in the quarterfinals by formidable Congolese, led by Florent Ibenge.
This final phase is certainly an opportunity for West Africa to carve out the lion's share, with Mali, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea in the last four.
But, on arrival, it is the DRC that wins, winning a second coronation after that of 2011, despite a clearly rejuvenated workforce.
A prolific tournament with 80 goals scored and an average of 2.5 goals per game, two records for CHAN.
CHAN 2018: the demonstration of Morocco
CHAN 2018 is much less spectacular, with only 58 goals scored and an average of 1.81 goals per game.
This fifth edition boils down to a demonstration of Morocco, whether by the quality of its organization and its infrastructure or by the superiority of its team.
The Moroccans weren't supposed to host this competition but Kenya was not ready on time.
The Lions took the opportunity to sweep away their opponents at home, with 16 goals scored in 6 matches including 9 for Ayoub El Kaabi alone, top scorer and player in this African Nations Championship.
The final is one-sided with a 4-0 victory over Nigeria.
Will Cameroon manage to do as well as Morocco, on the occasion of CHAN 2020?
[1] The African Football Confederation has decided that the competition will continue to be called TOTAL African Nations Championship Cameroon 2020, despite the tournament being postponed to 2021 due to the Covid-19.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Soccer
CHAN 2020
Sports
CHAN
CHAN 2011
CHAN 2014
CHAN 2016
CHAN 2018