The African Nations Championship (CHAN 2022) will be held from January 13 to February 4 in Algeria with, for the first time, eighteen teams divided into three groups of four and two groups of three. During this seventh edition, four coaches will be highly anticipated, for several reasons.
Pape Thiaw, a golden opportunity
Twelve years after their last participation in the CHAN 2022, the local Lions of Senegal are once again participating in the competition reserved for players who play in their local league. After so many years without qualifying, Senegal's senior team and its coach, Pape Thiaw, will be eagerly awaited in Algeria.
Replacing Joseph Koto (former coach of the team who died in October 2021), Pape Thiaw has been in office since last April. Before this appointment, the former FC Metz striker was the assistant of his predecessor. He has therefore quickly made his mark as head coach.
Senegal, in training for a few weeks, ended its preparation for the CHAN 2022 in Tunisia with a victory against Congo (I-0). Thiaw drew a rather positive conclusion. He also hopes to make Senegal the first nation to succeed in the CAN-CHAN double.
The Lions will start the CHAN on Saturday, February 14 at the 19-May 1956 stadium against Côte d'Ivoire, before facing Uganda and DR Congo.
Madjid Bougherra, time for revenge
Algerian coach Madjid Bougherra will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated coaches at the CHAN, which will be held at home in Algeria. At the head of the Algerian A' team since 2020, Bougherra certainly knows the recipe after having won the Cup, a little over a year ago with his Fennecs.
The former player will not have the right to make mistakes during this competition, especially since Algeria will be very revanchist during this tournament, after a rather catastrophic year 2022. The Fennecs were eliminated from the CAN 2021 in the first round, in addition to their non-qualification for the last World Cup.
This CHAN 2022 will be for the men of Bougherra, an opportunity to revive the Algerian soccer. This Friday, Algeria will play the opening match against Libya, at the stadium of Baraki from 20 hours (GMT).
Ngoma Kondi Otis, a third title required
With two titles in the pocket (2009 and 2016), the DR Congo will approach the seventh edition of the CHAN with the intention of winning a third trophy. The coach of the Leopards A' team, Ngoma Kondi Otis, appointed last April, will have the heavy responsibility of bringing the DR Congo back on the roof of Africa.
The Congolese are in a very tough group B, with Ivory Coast, Senegal and Uganda. But with a new technical staff put in place by Ngoma, the local Leopards will probably have their say in this tournament. Their first objective will be to make sure they get out of their group. They play their first game next Saturday against Uganda at the 19-May 1956 stadium.
Houcine Ammouta, an ambiguous participation
With a brilliant Moroccan national team at the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, the coach of the A' team, Houcine Ammouta, has probably a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. That of not breaking the historic feat of the Moroccans who took the first African place in the last FIFA ranking.
But, despite their status as two-time champions, Ammouta's men could be troubled by problems related to their trip. The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) requires a direct flight without passing through a third country to participate in the CHAN 2022, in order to facilitate the movement of the Moroccan team. Unfortunately, the organizers of this tournament have not yet given an answer on this subject.
The FRMF has also allowed the players of the U23 selection to join their respective clubs, while they were in training at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. This could perhaps mean the withdrawal of Morocco and its coach from the CHAN.
