The final group of the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) will see Cameroon, Congo and Niger go up against each other in Group E.
The group is one of two groups made up of three teams, the other being Group D – comprising Mali, Angola and Mauritania.
The composition of the group makes it one of the most intriguing in the group stage.
CAMEROON (Best Result: 2020 – Fourth place)
The Indomitable Lions head to Algeria having achieved their best CHAN result from the last edition on home soil, finishing fourth after losing 2-0 to Guinea.
Before that were quarter-final appearances in 2011 and 2016 where they lost to Angola and Ivory Coast respectively. Cameroon’s other CHAN appearance was in 2018 in Morocco but it ended in the group stage, finishing last in Group D behind Congo, Angola and Burkina Faso.
Cameroon made it to Algeria by dispatching Equatorial Guinea 2-1 on aggregate during the qualifiers. They will however face a tough test at CHAN 2022 when they take on Congo in their Group E opener on January 16 at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran.
The Congolese claimed a 1-0 win over the Cameroonians at the 2018 edition and considering both nations share borders, it all points towards a difficult encounter.
CONGO (Best Result: 2018, 2020 – Quarter-finals)
The Red Devils are making in their third consecutive CHAN appearance and fourth overall which began in 2014.
Their CHAN debut in South Africa nine years ago ended in a group stage exit, finishing third in Group C behind Ghana and Libya. Their next outings saw them go through to the quarter-finals in 2018 and 2020 before losing to Libya and Mali respectively.
The Congolese made it to Algeria with a 2-2 away goal aggregate win over neighbours Central African Republic.
Facing another neighbour in Cameroon in their opener will be a daunting task especially as only top spot is up for grabs to make it to out of the group.
NIGER (Best Result: 2011 – Quarter-final)
The Menas are considered minnows of Group E as they have the lowest CHAN record among the other participants.
A quarter-final finish on their CHAN debut in 2011 was followed by group stage finishes in 2016 and 2020, finishing last and third respectively.
Niger had the better of Togo 3-1 on aggregate during the qualifiers and will have it all to do if they harbour any hopes of causing an upset in the trimmed group.
AFROSPORT TV will be showing all Group D matches live across Nigeria and you watch on the go via – https://mw.vidivu.tv/s/496423
Group E fixtures
Cameroon vs Congo January 16 (8PM)
Congo vs Niger January 20 January 20 (8PM)
Niger vs Cameroon January 24 January 24 (8PM)
