CHAN
Morocco’s Atlas Lions launch third CHAN title quest against resurgent Angola Palancas Negras
Morocco, who were denied participation in the last edition in Algeria, will kick off their quest for a third title at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 with a high-stakes Group A fixture against Angola this Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.
The North African giants are aiming for an unprecedented third CHAN title, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and 2020.
They enter this tournament with a strong pedigree and a squad driven by ambition, despite facing pre-tournament challenges.
Head coach Tarik Sektioui has emphasised the importance of beginning the campaign with a win, noting that a positive start would instil belief and momentum in a competition where consistency often determines eventual champions.
“For us, it is very important to approach the first match with a victory that will allow the players to gain in terms of confidence and a positive state of mind,” Sektioui told the media on the eve of the match.
“We are determined to win this match and have prepared well for it.”
Sektioui’s message was echoed by team captain Mohamed Rabie Hrimat, who said that the players understand the weight of expectation and are fully focused on delivering results.
“The national team is determined to win the trophy and the players are aware of the responsibility they have,” Hrimat stated.
“We have enough experience in African competitions to make a difference. Our main objective is to get through the group stage and ultimately win the title.”
Morocco’s success in previous CHAN tournaments has made them one of the most feared sides in the competition. They have gone 13 matches unbeaten at CHAN, winning 11 and drawing 2. Their last defeat came in 2014 against Côte d’Ivoire.
Their previous opening matches include emphatic victories such as a 4-0 demolition of Mauritania in 2018 and a narrow 1-0 win over Togo in 2020.
This will be Morocco’s fifth appearance at the CHAN finals. They are the only team to have successfully defended the title and remain unbeaten in opening matches.
However, Angola presents a significant challenge. The Palancas Negras are themselves veterans of the competition, with this being their fifth appearance. Their best finish came in 2011 when they finished runners-up.
Angola head coach Pedro Gonçalves, who has led the national team since 2019, expressed confidence in his side’s ability to challenge the favourites.
“We’re not thinking beyond the Morocco match. They are strong, they want to win — but so do we. And I’m confident their hunger won’t exceed ours,” Gonçalves stated.
Angola’s recent record in continental competition has shown steady progress.
Under Gonçalves, the team enjoyed its best-ever Africa Cup of Nations campaign and were crowned COSAFA champions.
The coach believes this success reflects the growth of Angolan football.
“2024 was a very good year for us. Not only did we win COSAFA, but we had our best-ever AFCON. What made it even more special was how we united the nation behind the team,” he added.
But CHAN preparations were not without difficulty. Under the competition’s eligibility rules, only players competing in domestic leagues can participate. This led to the loss of five players who secured moves abroad during Angola’s training camp.
“Since we began preparations, five players have moved abroad. That’s something we never used to see,” Gonçalves said.
“It shows how Angolan players are being valued more. Technically, they’ve always been gifted, but now they’re developing holistically.”
Sunday’s encounter in Nairobi will be the first-ever CHAN meeting between Morocco and Angola.
However, Morocco holds an advantage in experience against Southern African opponents, having won previous CHAN matches against Namibia and Zambia, and drawn against Zimbabwe.
Angola’s record in opening matches has been less impressive. They are winless in four opening fixtures, with three draws and a single loss.
Their last win at the CHAN came in 2018, a 1-0 victory over Cameroon. Since then, they have gone four matches without a win.
Despite this, Angola have proven to be difficult opponents. They have drawn eight times in their CHAN history, including memorable high-scoring affairs like the 3-3 draw against Mali in 2022.
Both teams qualified for CHAN 2024 with commanding performances. Morocco topped their qualification group, while Angola defeated Lesotho 2-1 on aggregate, winning 2-0 away in the first leg before a narrow 1-0 defeat at home.
Sektioui highlighted the resilience of his players, praising their tactical maturity and determination amid setbacks during the pre-tournament phase.
“We started with native players born from 2000 onwards, but the departure of 11 players to new clubs and the injuries of two others affected our preparations,” he explained.
“The players retained in the final list have shown technical and tactical maturity that we will use to make good progress during this championship.”
He also welcomed the late additions of veteran players, whose presence he believes will be invaluable.
“I am very pleased with the addition of the veterans who joined us late, but whose quality was crucial and facilitated their quick integration with the players,” said the former international.
CHAN 2024 is co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania — the first time the competition is being staged across three nations.
Morocco will play their Group A fixtures in Nairobi, starting with the clash against Angola, followed by matches against Kenya, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Gonçalves believes the opening match against Morocco is the ideal litmus test for his team.
“This is our chance to test ourselves against one of the best. We’ve worked hard for this,” he said.
“Psychologically, we are preparing to play the best — and that’s what tomorrow is about.”
Morocco’s ambition is clear — to win the title and reinforce their status as a powerhouse of local football on the continent.
Angola, meanwhile, will look to build on their upward trajectory and pull off a statement result against the defending champions.
As the players take to the pitch in Nairobi, fans across Africa will be watching closely — not only to see who starts strong, but to gauge which of these two seasoned CHAN participants can turn potential into glory.
-CAFonline
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Tanzania began their African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 campaign in electrifying fashion with a dominant 2-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Saturday night at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
Roared on by a passionate home crowd, the Taifa Stars claimed their first-ever win in a CHAN opening fixture, breaking a streak of early exits in previous editions.
Goals from Abdul Sopu and Mohamed Hussein sealed the landmark victory in their Group B opener.
The team started brightly, applying pressure from the first whistle with Clement Mzize and Feisal Salum forcing early saves from Burkina Faso goalkeeper Ladji Sanou.
The breakthrough came just before halftime after Mzize was tripped inside the penalty area by Frank Tologo.
Sopu stepped up in the third minute of stoppage time and coolly converted the spot-kick, sending Sanou the wrong way to hand Tanzania a deserved lead.
Burkina Faso, aiming to break their own curse of winless CHAN openers, introduced three substitutes at halftime, including seasoned campaigners Patrick Malo and Yves Koutiama. But it was Tanzania that maintained the upper hand.
The hosts continued their attacking momentum into the second half, and their pressure paid off in the 71st minute.
Right-back Mudathir Yahya delivered a pinpoint cross that found defender Mohamed Hussein, who powered home a header to double Tanzania’s lead and ignite celebrations in the stands.
Despite a late surge from the Stallions, including efforts from Tertius Bagré and Papus Ouattara, the West Africans could not find a breakthrough. Tanzania’s defence held firm to preserve their clean sheet and wrap up a memorable night.
The result puts Tanzania top of a challenging Group B, which also includes Burundi and the Central African Republic.
For Burkina Faso, the defeat means they remain without a win in any of their four CHAN openers and now face a difficult path to the knockout rounds.
The Taifa Stars will look to continue their strong start in their next group match, while Burkina Faso are left with plenty to do to keep their hopes alive.
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The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), officially dubbed CHAN PAMOJA 2024, kicks off this Saturday in Dar es Salaam with a host of groundbreaking developments, including a brand-new trophy and a dramatic 75% increase in prize money for the tournament winners.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that this year’s champions will walk away with a record USD 3.5 million—up from USD 2 million in the last edition—while the total prize pool for the tournament has climbed 32% to USD 10.4 million.
This financial boost underscores the growing status and commercial value of CHAN, the continent’s premier tournament for players competing exclusively in their national domestic leagues.
Adding to the sense of occasion is the introduction of a newly designed trophy, symbolizing a new era for the competition.
The prestigious silverware will be contested throughout the month-long event, which features 19 teams and will, for the first time in history, be co-hosted by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The opening match will see hosts Tanzania face Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam this Saturday with kick-off scheduled for 20h00 local time (17h00 GMT).
Matches will be played across four cities—Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Kampala, and Nairobi—culminating in the final at the Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, on August 30. The third-place playoff will be held in Kampala a day earlier.
The expanded format and multi-nation hosting reflect CAF’s ambition to elevate CHAN to new heights, both in terms of reach and competitiveness.
Heavyweights such as defending champions Senegal, two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo, along with Algeria, Nigeria, Zambia, and South Africa, are among the teams expected to light up the tournament.
The draw has produced several compelling group matchups. Group A features hosts Kenya alongside Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, and Zambia in what promises to be a fiercely contested pool.
Group B, where hosts Tanzania are drawn, also includes debutants Central African Republic, as well as Madagascar, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso.
Group C will provide high-stakes action with Algeria, Uganda, South Africa, Guinea, and Niger battling for supremacy, while Group D features just four teams—Senegal, Nigeria, Congo, and Sudan—but boasts some of the tournament’s most successful sides.
With ticket sales already underway and fan engagement campaigns in full swing across all three host nations, CHAN PAMOJA 2024 promises to be a celebration of African football, culture, and unity. It also serves as a crucial platform for unearthing and showcasing local talent poised to break into the international spotlight.
As anticipation builds, all eyes now turn to Dar es Salaam for the much-awaited opening whistle of what is shaping up to be the most ambitious and lucrative CHAN tournament to date.
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CHAN
Algerian Referee Lotfi Bekouassa to Officiate CHAN 2024 Opener Between Tanzania and Burkina Faso
Algerian referee Lotfi Bekouassa has been appointed to officiate the opening match of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 between host nation Tanzania and Burkina Faso, scheduled for this Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Kick-off is set for 20:00 local time (which is 5 pm in Nigeria) in what promises to be a high-octane start to the eighth edition of CHAN – Africa’s flagship tournament reserved exclusively for players plying their trade in domestic leagues.
This year’s edition is historic, marking the first time CHAN will be jointly hosted by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, under the tournament theme “PAMOJA” – a Swahili word meaning “together.”
Bekouassa, 38, is a seasoned official with over a decade of refereeing experience. Born in Algiers on January 9, 1987, he made his professional league debut in 2014 and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2016.
Away from the pitch, he works as a teacher, a profession that mirrors his reputation on the field for calm authority, precision, and fairness.
Supporting Bekouassa in the tournament opener are fellow Algerian Adel Abane as Assistant Referee I and Tunisia’s Wael Hannachi as Assistant Referee II. The fourth official will be Algeria’s Houssam Benyahia.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team will also be on hand, led by Lahlou Benbraham of Algeria, with South Africa’s Akhona Makalima serving as Assistant VAR, highlighting CAF’s continued push for top-tier officiating and the integration of technology in its major tournaments.
The curtain-raiser between Tanzania and Burkina Faso is one of the most anticipated matches in the group stage.
With the hosts aiming to kick off their campaign on a strong note in front of an expectant home crowd, and Burkina Faso eyeing a statement performance, the atmosphere is expected to be electric.
CHAN 2024 features 19 teams from across the continent, all composed of home-based players, providing a showcase for local talent and offering many a platform to shine on the continental stage.
For Bekouassa, this assignment underscores his standing among Africa’s top referees and presents another opportunity to solidify his place in CAF’s elite officiating ranks as the tournament unfolds.
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