Football: in Algeria, the 7th edition of CHAN should not lack stakes

Cobtan, the mascot of CHAN 2023 organized by Algeria.

© Courtesy of CAF

Text by: Ndiasse Sambe Follow

4 mins

The African Nations Championship (CHAN), which still suffers from a lack of popularity compared to the CAN, hopes to take advantage (from January 13 to February 6) of the enthusiasm of Algerian supporters to better expose themselves.

The organizing country wants the trophy and intends to show, through this competition, that it is already ready to host CAN 2025.

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Almost 14 years of existence, a seventh edition which will start this Friday, January 13, and still this feeling that the CHAN has not yet fully found its place in African football.

Despite the efforts of CAF and the support of several countries, the competition is still struggling to generate lasting popular enthusiasm.

It is certainly the fault of a "big sister", the CAN, which takes place so close together that the followers do not have time to let themselves be seduced by another tournament.

Still, the CHAN is moving forward in uncertainty and today raises questions on the eve of its launch.

At the moment indeed, we still don't know where and when the next edition will take place... In 2024?

2025?

or 2026?

This illustrates well the state of reflection of CAF about the future of its competition.

This local CAN, at a discount for some, useless for others, gives the impression of living its last hours.

What could keep her alive?

A beautiful tournament, beautiful revelations, entertainment with great popular support.

For this, Algeria, with its passionate supporters, is perhaps the ideal ground to restore tone to CHAN.

Algeria, CHAN 2023 for CAN 2025

The challenge of this organization for Algeria, 23 years after CAN 90, is necessarily linked to CAN 2025, the organization of which has been withdrawn from Guinea.

Algeria has positioned itself to host this 2025 edition. And has every interest in ensuring that CHAN is a success.

The tournament would thus be a trial balloon as was the CHAN 2021 in Cameroon, a year before the CAN organized in the countries of the Indomitable Lions.

The competition will take place in four different cities (Algiers, Oran, Constantine, and Annaba).

Algeria has just inaugurated the Nelson Mandela stadium built in the Algiers suburbs, in Baraki, with a capacity of 40,000 seats.

It is in this enclosure that the opening match and the final will take place.

CAF will announce its decision on the chosen country on February 10, less than a week after the CHAN final.

A good organization will constitute a very good argument to appear in the short-list of the CAF in the company of…Morocco which acts as favorite.

Morocco, a double tenant in danger

On the ground, we logically expect a lot from the Atlas Lions, double title holders, escorted by a historic fourth place won during the World Cup and a first African place in the last Fifa ranking.

The football of the Cherifian kingdom is in a historical dynamic that the CHAN could however break, so much,

, came to disturb the preparation of the men of Houcine Ammouta.

Opposite, there will be especially Algeria A revenge.

The country has not digested its elimination in the first round of the last CAN and especially its non-qualification for the last World Cup.

This Chan will therefore be a great opportunity for Algeria to reconcile with its supporters.

The former captain of Fennecs, Madjid Bougherra, now coach of the local team, already knows the recipe after

, a little over a year ago with his Fennecs.

In front of its public, Algeria will therefore only aim for a final success to write its name on the CHAN prize list.

Among the other contenders, there will also be the DRC, winner of the trophy twice, and led by seasoned players in club and African Cups.

Senegal also arrives with ambitions and presents itself as an outsider.

He can count on his goalkeeper Alioune Badara Faty, African champion who dreams of winning the CHAN and making Senegal the first nation to achieve the CAN-CHAN double.

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