Very expected at the Algerian meeting, Mali, Cameroon and DR Congo did not honor their rank. They failed in the first round.
Mali's nightmare against Mauritania
In a press conference, Mali coach Nouhoum Diané praised his team, arguing that there was no stronger team than his group at the CHAN 2022 in Algeria. On Wednesday, January 24, at the Milou Hadefi Olympic stadium, the little thumb of group D, Mauritania, proved him wrong. Led by the experienced Comorian technician Amir Abdou, the Murabitounes rubbed shoulders and had the best over the local Eagles (1-0). In the process, they got their first victory in a CHAN in three participations and their first qualification for the quarterfinals.
A qualification obtained at the expense of Mali which takes the door from the first round. It must be said that the men of Nouhoum Diané have shown themselves a little too sufficient in this tournament to hope for better. They had already shown an unrecognizable face in the first half of their match against Angola (3-1 at the break), before returning to the field with better arguments in the second half (3-3). Faced with a Mauritania well in place and strong in the duels, the Eagles, twice finalists of the CHAN (2016 and 2021) have lacked ideas to tip the match in their favor, thus headed home
Cameroon, poor against Niger
Cameroon had its destiny in hand before facing Niger for the third and final day of Group F composed of only three teams. Leader of the group at the beginning of the match with three points, the Indomitable Lions only needed a draw to reach the quarterfinals. But at the end, they recorded a fatal defeat (1-0) against the Mena which eliminates them from the Algerian appointment.
However, the CHAN 2022 had started well for Alioum Saidou's men, with a victory against Congo (1-0) on the first day. But after that, they had to wait eight days before returning to the competition after being exempted for the second day. A long break that has certainly had its consequences on their underperformance against Niger, even if it is not the only cause. The Lions were very poor in front of goal with no shot on target in the entire first half, talk less of scoring chances.
Troubled DR Congo
Twice winner of the CHAN in 2009 and 2016, DR Congo is far from its glory days in local African soccer. The proof is that the Leopards have managed a mediocre CHAN with 0 goals scored after the group matches (B). Worse, they have shown a disgusting technical waste during their various outings. If their attack was pitiful to see, the defense was flooded against Senegal (3-0) during the third and last day of the group stage. And it was not with their only two points on the counter after draws against Uganda (0-0, 1st day) and Ivory Coast (0-0, 2nd day) that the Congolese were going to hope to pass to the second round. Their elimination is more than logical.
