AFCON 2025: through the CHAN, Algeria has scored points... and left a lasting impression

"This will be the most successful edition in history! " Making that prediction on the eve of the CHAN 2022 kick-off, Patrice Motsepe probably did not expect to be proved so right three weeks later. With the final between the host nation and Senegal set for this Saturday, 4 February, it is already time to take stock for the president of the Confederation of African Football, who has followed the competition across all four host cities of Algiers, Annaba, Constantine and Oran. Back in the Algerian capital ahead of the final, the South African was full of praise for the hosts.

"The best CHAN of all time " says Patrice Motsepe

"I say with confidence that CHAN 2022 in Algeria is the best of all time. In the whole history of the CHAN in Africa, it is truly the best edition. The quality of the football, the facilities, the stadiums, the pitches, the referees, VAR, the hotels, the transport. It is the best, " he declared in front of a room of journalists who had come to hear his impressions. The sentiment is broadly shared by many federation presidents among the participating nations, as well as staff, players and supporters, some of whom travelled to cheer on their team. As well as the four stadiums that hosted the tournament in an atmosphere rarely seen at a CHAN, many praise the quality of the non-sporting infrastructure and the ease of getting around.

Read more on the same subject: CHAN 2022: Constantine and its atmosphere bow out with honours

Karim Haggui is among them. A former Tunisia international, present at this CHAN as a "CAF Legend", the ex-defender has been lavish in his praise of the host country. " Algeria had not hosted a major tournament for a very long time. Looking at the excellent work done on facilities and infrastructure, transport and other aspects, they have given a fine image of the country," he acknowledges, before commending the work of the sporting authorities who strove for "the success of this CHAN, which marks a step forward for African football. " Yacine Idriss Diallo echoes that view.

Before the Elephants were knocked out in the quarter-finals, the president of the Ivorian Football Federation reached the same conclusion as many of his counterparts on the ground. Also here to take advice and learn lessons ahead of the next Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in Ivory Coast, he praised the quality of the infrastructure. " By coming here, it was possible to gather useful information for organising a major sporting event. We are also here to learn at the same time. I was in Annaba, and I saw magnificent infrastructure. Algeria remains a great football country with quality infrastructure. We have been welcomed in excellent conditions, " he said, before promising: "We will take what is best to stage an AFCON that lives up to expectations. "

Is the 2025 AFCON race back on?

Like President Diallo, many members of the Confederation of African Football are praising the work Algeria has done at this CHAN. And that comes as the country is also a candidate to host the 2025 AFCON, up against South Africa, Morocco, Zambia and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria. With the host nation potentially due to be named on 10 February, the discussion around the award is being debated behind the scenes. In conversations, several CAF members and staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, make no secret of their positive overall impression of this CHAN and would look favourably on the Africa Cup of Nations after the one in Ivory Coast being held in Algeria.

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That is, if the members of the CAF Executive Committee, who will have the final say in the vote, do not think differently. Initially trailing the South African and Moroccan bids, billed as the favourites, by several lengths, the country of the 2019 African champions has probably made up some of that ground with this CHAN 2022, even if it may not have completely reshuffled the pack for the 2025 AFCON award.