CHAN: former international calls for a change of format
Karim Haggui believes the CHAN should favour young players. The former Tunisia international wants to take inspiration from the Olympic Games.
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With the CHAN 2022 set to reach its final this Saturday 5 February, with Algeria facing Senegal, Karim Haggui is already thinking about the future. The former Tunisia international wants a change of format. He accepts the competition should stay as it is, with squads made up of home-based players. However, the former captain of the Eagles of Carthage would like to see an age limit introduced. "It is better to play at the CHAN with players under 23 because there is quality at that level and we don't need players of 33 ", he first told BBC Sport Africa.
Karim Haggui then expanded on his point. "You have to give young players the opportunity to improve their game in the tournament, which will extend to domestic football. The CHAN will be more competitive and the performances will also have a big impact on the domestic leagues now and in the future as well. With all due respect, having someone who is already 33 makes it extremely difficult for the scouts who are here to take an interest in such players".
Taking inspiration from the Olympics
The former Strasbourg and Bayer Leverkusen player therefore wants the CHAN to become a stepping stone to the senior A national teams, which would get young players used to high-stakes matches before they represent their countries. "The CHAN is a tournament for home-based players, so it makes sense to give a chance to those who don't regularly get the chance to play with the first team. At senior national team level, players come from big European clubs in Italy, Germany and England to play in the AFCON, but here at the CHAN, stars can emerge to take that big step. For a man of 33, I am sorry that the CHAN doesn't offer such a big opportunity", Karim Haggui went on.
Read also: CHAN 2022-Mamadou Sy (Senegal): the wall!
Finally, Karim Haggui has another idea: taking inspiration from the Olympic Games. "It might be good to go with perhaps two or three older players to add (the) quality of experience to the teams. Generally, it is enough to give young players the chance to play"