CHAN 2020: open quarter-finals between established nations and ambitious selections
The DRC Leopards celebrating their equalization in the last second of the match against Libya, January 21, 2021. © Pierre René-Worms / RFI
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
8 min
The quarter-finals of CHAN 2020 will be held this weekend of January 30-31, starting with Mali-Congo and DRC-Cameroon on Saturday, then Morocco-Zambia and Guinea-Rwanda on Sunday.
The defending champion, the most successful nation, the host country are there, as are a few selections never won medals at CHAN and eager to move the lines.
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Mali-Congo
The first round was rather quiet for the Eagles, first in group A with 7 points (two wins and a draw).
Mali started its CHAN well by beating Burkina Faso (1-0).
The draw then obtained against Cameroon (1-1) forced the Malians to remain vigilant until the end: mission accomplished with this victory against the Zimbabwe Warriors (1-0) which offered them first place.
Nouhoum Diané's players did not string the goals like pearls, but they had the merit of finding the net at each exit.
For Congo, it was more complicated in Group B. With only one point on the clock after two matches (1-0 defeat against the DRC, 1-1 draw against Niger), the Red Devils found themselves at the foot of the wall and not masters of their destiny before the third and final game.
Fortunately for them, the planets aligned: a 1-0 victory over Libya, and a boost from the Leopards who beat Niger with a goal in added time (2-1), thus preventing the Mena from '' tear off the second ticket from group B for the quarter-finals on the wire.
Logically, Mali, finalist of CHAN 2016, favorite part of this quarter against Congo, which has never been on the podium and has never even passed the quarter-finals in its two previous participations.
During the Cameroon-Mali match, at CHAN 2020 © Courtesy of CAF
DRC-Cameroon
It is undoubtedly the shock of these quarter-finals.
On the one hand, the DRC, the only twice-titled nation (2009 and 2016).
On the other, Cameroon, the organizing country.
The Leopards had a somewhat complicated start with all these cases of Covid-19 which deprived them of many players and staff.
Hard blows that did not prevent the Congolese from finishing at the top of Group B, not without adding a dose of suspense.
After the inaugural victory against Congo-Brazzaville (1-0), the DRC snatched a draw in added time against Libya (1-1, Amédé Masasi Obenza equalized in added time).
And rebel in the last match against Niger: while the score was 1-1, the same Obenza emerged again to score the goal of victory and qualification (2-1).
Watch out for these Leopards, dangerous as long as the final whistle has not sounded.
For the Indomitable Lions, the first round was without relief, just paced by captain Salomon Bindjeme Banga.
The midfielder scored the winning goal against Zimbabwe (1-0).
He put it back against Mali, for a draw this time (1-1).
And then, Cameroon did not take any risk for its last match against Burkina Faso.
Coach Martin Ndtoungou Mpile and his team only needed one point against the Stallions to qualify, and they got it (0-0).
But will this sobriety be sufficient against the DRC?
Coach Florent Ibenge and the Leopards won the Congolese derby under special conditions.
© Pierre René-Worns / RFI
Morocco-Zambia
Title-holders, Morocco will face Zambia, whose best CHAN result is a third place in 2009. Moroccans, like the DRC and Mali, have won two matches and signed a draw, but they have in addition for them the title of best attack of the first round: six goals scored, like Guinea, but with a better goal difference, +4 against +3.
An honorary badge a little trompe-l'oeil, because the Atlas Lions won their first match against Togo (1-0) thanks to a penalty goal signed Yahya Jabrane, before being neutralized by Rwanda (0-0).
And in their last match against Uganda, they were led to the score and only equalized just before the break with a new penalty, signed Ayoub El Kaabi, top scorer of CHAN 2018 and much more discreet three years more late.
On the other hand, the Moroccans were on fire during the last 45 minutes, scoring four goals for a 5-2 final victory.
Difficult, therefore, to say exactly on the potential of this team.
But with a title to defend, Morocco is clearly not to be underestimated.
The Zambians them, ideally started against Tanzania (2-0) before falling in regime against Guinea (1-1), then modest Namibia which had nothing more to play (0-0).
In short, a first round not very encouraging, but still enough for Zambia to play the quarter-finals for the third consecutive edition.
With such success and solid defense, the Chipolopolo will not be underestimated.
Moroccan Nawfel Zerhouni (l) during the match against Rwanda, January 22, 2021. © Pierre-René Worms / RFI
Guinea-Rwanda
Like Zambia in Group D, Guinea qualified with one success (3-0 against Namibia) and two draws (1-1 against Zambia, 2-2 against Tanzania).
His efficient attack allowed him to take first place.
The Syli can thank Yakhouba Gnagna Barry, author of three of the six goals scored in the first round and thus CHAN's top scorer for the moment.
With him, among others, Guinea hopes to do better than its fourth place at CHAN 2016. It was the only time it had passed the first round elsewhere.
The medal objective already passes through this quarter-final against Rwanda.
Rwandans also passed the first round with one win and two draws.
Except that they won everything on their last match.
After the 0-0 against Uganda and the 0-0 against Morocco, Rwanda was not given favorite in their last match against Togo.
At the end of a game with twists and turns, the Amavubi were led to the score twice before winning (3-2), thus blowing the second place to the Sparrowhawks.
This ability to turn the tide can be an asset against Syli.
Ugandan Musitafa Mujuzi and Rwandan Jean Bertrand Iradukunda, January 18, 2021 during CHAN 2020 © Pierre René-Worms / RFI
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Sports
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CHAN 2020
CHAN
Mali
Congo Brazzaville
DRC
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Morocco
Zambia
Guinea
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