CHAN 2022: Mali v Mauritania is a derby with a quarter-final place at stake, while Cameroon control their own destiny
Drawn in Group D, which has just three teams, Mali and Mauritania meet on Tuesday 24 January in a West African derby
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With only three teams in it, Group D offers just one ticket to the quarter-finals of the CHAN 2022 in Algeria. That spot looks set to be decided between Mali and Mauritania on Tuesday 24 January at 16:00 (GMT) at the Miloud Hedfi Stadium.
Angola, the third team in the group, look out of the running after two draws (3-3 against Mali, 0-0 against Mauritania).
For this West African derby, Mali, who were unlucky runners-up in 2016 in Rwanda and in 2021 in Cameroon, are the favourites against Mauritania, who are still chasing a first win in the competition. Will the match against the local Eagles be the right one for the Mourabitounes?
On the Mali side, they are wary of Amir Abdou's men in any case. "We know it will not be easy to win against a team that is improving day by day," Mali coach Diané Nouhoum warned. "If I am not mistaken, they have the same players who play in their senior side, which makes things very difficult for us. Every team in this tournament is formidable and we know Mauritania have good momentum at the moment."
Cameroon v Niger: one point is enough for the Lions
Like Group D, Group E has only three teams: Cameroon (1st, 3 pts), Niger (2nd, 1 pt) and Congo (3rd, 1 pt). Already eliminated from the tournament after a defeat and a draw in their two matches, the local Red Devils have thus given up the chance of reaching the CHAN quarter-finals, leaving it to Cameroon and Niger. The two sides play for a place in the second round on Tuesday at 19:00 (GMT) at the Miloud Hedfi Stadium.
While the local Indomitable Lions need only a point to book their place, their coach Saidou Alioum insisted his side will play to win: "It is important that everyone understands this match is very important. It is dangerous to calculate. We must go out there, give everything and go for the win. We are not yet qualified."
Given a bye on the second matchday, the Cameroonians have gone 8 days without playing. Against the Menas, they will be watched particularly closely for their intensity and physical edge. "We have not played for eight days. That has advantages but also drawbacks. But we are competitors. Playing for a draw is not enough. We must go out and win. That is our identity. We want to progress in the tournament," said Saidou Alioum.