CHAN 2022: Algeria host country to dethrone Morocco

The curtains fell on the 6th edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which saw Morocco retain its crown. In the wake, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed over the torch to Algeria, host country of the next edition. An opportunity for the Algerians to put an end to Moroccan reign.

At the end of the final of the 6th edition played Sunday evening at the Yaounde stadium (Cameroon), the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed the torch to Algeria, future host country of the next edition 2022, but postponed to 2023. An opportunity for the Algerians to prepare themselves, in order to put an end to the Moroccan reign on local football on the continent.

It was the Algerian ambassador in Yaounde, Merzak Bedjaoui, who received the CAF flag from the hands of officials of the African football body. Algeria would therefore be the second North African country to host this CHAN competition, reserved for local players, after Morocco in 2018.

In six editions of the African Championship of Nations (CHAN), Algeria has only participated in the one organised in 2011 in Sudan where it was eliminated in the semi-final by Tunisia (1-1, TAB 3-5). It is moreover the Eagles of Carthage who will win this competition, by largely dominating Angola in the final (3-0).

As a reminder, Morocco won, Sunday, the final of CHAN 2020 by beating Mali (2-0) in Yaounde. Already winners in 2018, the Atlas Lions become the first selection to win the competition twice in a row. The third place in the tournament went to Guinea, who defeated hosts Cameroon 2-0.

CHAN 2020, postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19, was held in four stadiums in three Cameroonian cities from January 16 to February 7, 2021.