Football fans across Africa are set to enjoy the 2022 African Nations Championship in Algeria as 18 countries battle for supremacy from January 13.
As the clock ticks for the seventh edition of the biennial showpiece, Afrosport previews Group A which comprises Algeria, Libya, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
Algeria (Best result: 2011 – fourth place)
The Desert Foxes are only making their second-ever CHAN appearance and first in more than a decade when they finished fourth at the 2011 edition in Sudan.
Algeria enjoys the privilege of not playing the qualifiers as host nation and will hope to make that advantage count for possibly a title win.
Algeria’s most recent success with the home-based national team was their victorious outing at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.
Libya (Best result: 2014 – champions)
In 2014, the Mediterranean Knights beat Ghana 4-3 on penalties in the final game to lift their maiden continental crown in South Africa.
It was a very unifying moment for the country that had been split by war and political conflict.
Libya had another good outing at the 2018 CHAN tournament in Morocco, finishing fourth after losing on penalties to neighbours Sudan.
They did not have to play any qualifiers following the withdrawal of Egypt and Tunisia in the Northern Zone.
The withdrawal meant only Libya and defending champions Morocco made it automatically into the group phase.
Ethiopia (Best result: 2014, 2016 – group stage)
The Walia Ibex are making their third CHAN appearance after back-to-back outings in 2014 and 2016.
On both occasions, they did not make it past the group phase and the previous record made them underdogs in Group A.
Ethiopia had an easy run during the qualifiers, dispatching South Sudan 5-0 on aggregate.
They will, however, have it all to do if they hope to make it out of the group phase for the first time in their CHAN history.
Mozambique (Best result: 2014 – group stage)
The Mambas like Algeria are making it to their second CHAN tournament. Their previous and only appearance was in 2014 when they crashed out of the group phase.
On that occasion, they lost all their three matches and finished last in Group A behind Mali, Nigeria and South Africa with a goal difference of -5 goals, the worst of any participant in that tournament.
Going by previous results, Mozambique are arguably the weakest team in Group A and one of the weakest in the entire tournament.
Mozambique’s qualification to Algeria wasn’t easy as they sealed a 1-0 aggregate win over Zambia. While that was a big statement win, they will need even more to make something happen this time around.
GROUP A FIXTURES
Algeria vs Libya – January 13 (8pm)
Ethiopia vs Mozambique – January 14 (2pm)
Algeria vs Ethiopia – January 17 (5pm)
Mozambique vs Libya – January 17 ( 8pm)
Mozambique vs Algeria – January 21 (8pm)
Libya vs Ethiopia – January 21 (8pm)
Afrosport will show all the 6 Group A matches LIVE on Free TV, channel 730 and through affiliate partners across Nigeria. You can also stream the games via – https://mw.vidivu.tv/
