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African Nations Championship

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Not to be confused with Africa Cup of Nations.
"CHAN" redirects here. For the Canadian TV station, see CHAN-DT. For other uses, see Chan (disambiguation).

African Nations Championship
Organising bodyCAF
Founded2009; 15 years ago (2009)
RegionAfrica
Number of teams18
Current champions Morocco (2nd title)
Most successful team(s) DR Congo
 Morocco
(2 titles each)
Television broadcasters
WebsiteOfficial website
2022 African Nations Championship
2020 African Nations Championship opening ceremony at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Tournaments

The African Nations Championship (French: Championnat d'Afrique des Nations; abbreviated as CHAN), known as the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship for sponsorship purposes, is a biennial African national association football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and first announced on 11 September 2007.[1] The participating nations must consist of players playing in their national league competitions.[2]

The first tournament held in Ivory Coast in 2009 was won by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who, along with Morocco, are the only countries to have won the tournament twice, with Tunisia and Libya scooping one title each.[3] At first, the tournament was played with eight teams, but quickly expanded to sixteen from the second edition onward.[4]

As of the 2014 edition, all tournament matches from qualification to the final, will be computed to calculate the FIFA World Rankings, making its development a necessity.[5] The whole tournament is considered friendly by FIFA since the restriction only allows players from local leagues to participate. The tournament is held biennially, alternating with the Africa Cup of Nations.[6]

History

Development

The conception of this tournament came on 11 September 2007 during a CAF Executive Committee in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the aim unveiled as giving homegrown players opportunities to represent their nations and promote their home leagues globally.[7] The tournament was approved and confirmed the following January before the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. After the tournament event in February, Ivory Coast succeeded in hosting the first edition unanimously by the Executive Committee led by then-CAF President, Issa Hayatou, beating firm-favorite countries like Sudan and Egypt. After this decision, the tournament dates were confirmed.

First edition

The qualifiers began on 29 March and concluded on 14 December 2008. During that period, seven teams joined Ivory Coast to play the tournament. On 22 February 2009, at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, the tournament kicked off. The first goal was scored by Zambian Given Singuluma against Ivory Coast. In Group A, Zambia and Senegal qualified at the expense of Tanzania and Ivory Coast. In Group B, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo were able to qualify, while Zimbabwe and Libya were unable to advance to the next round.

In the semi-finals, Senegal and Ghana faced each other, which was decided by a penalty shoot-out, the qualifier for the first final. On the other hand, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo or the DRC) beat Zambia and got the second ticket in the final match. In the match for third place, Zambia won the bronze medal over Senegal. The Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny witnessed the first final in the tournament's history as the Democratic Republic of the Congo became the inaugural tournament champion after defeating Ghana 2–0. In this way, the central African country achieved its first continental title after a 35-year drought.[8]

Tournament expansion

The rapid interest of countries for the tournament led to the increase in the participants from 8 to 16, in its second edition hosted by Sudan in the midst of the struggle for the independence referendum for South Sudan in 2011.[9] The four host cities were Omdurman, Khartoum, Wad Madani and Port Sudan. The qualifiers began on 11 January 2010 and ended on June 6 of the same year. A total of 11 teams qualified for the first time, while 5 teams qualified for the second time.[10]

The tournament was very irregular, in each group there was a dominant team but all the second teams were decided in the last round. Cameroon and South Africa were the only two teams to score the full mark, but they lost in the quarter-finals to Angola and Algeria, respectively. Meanwhile, Sudan beat Niger on penalties and Tunisia beat defending champions Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On 22 February 2011, the semi-finals were played and both ended on penalties. In the first match, Tunisia continued its winning streak, and after a 1–1 draw, it defeated Algeria 3–5 on penalties. A little later, Sudan and Angola tied with the same score, but it was Angola that managed to win on penalties 2–4. In the match for third place, Sudan finished third after beating Algeria by 1–0. Tunisia and Angola, who had tied 1–1 in the first round 15 days ago, played in the final. Tunisia won the tournament in its first participation after beating Angola 3–0 in the final.

FIFA recognition

The tournament changed to instead be held biennially in even-numbered years. This came after the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the request of some European clubs to change this tournament to another year so that it does not coincide with the calendar with the FIFA World Cup, a request that was finally accepted by CAF. Prior to that, CAF named Libya as the hosts of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2014 African Nations Championship, but had both hosting rights stripped at the onset of the First Libyan Civil War. Several countries offered to host both tournaments, including Egypt and South Africa; the latter chosen as the hosts, citing the credential of its impressive infrastructural hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In the qualifiers, there were some big surprises, as the 2010 and 2014 World Cup players were excluded, namely Algeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, as well as Tunisia, the previous title holder.

Cape Town Stadium, one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums, home of the 2014 African Nations Championship Final.

The third edition was fantastic by all accounts, the World Cup stadiums gave a different touch to the tournament that started on 11 January 2014. The first round was very even, the quarter-finalists were decided in the last round, with decisive goals in stoppage time in each group. But since then, things have not changed in the knockout stage, as all the quarter-final and semi-final matches were decided by either a single goal difference or a penalty shootout. In the match for third place, Nigeria, who had several players on their team who won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and were preparing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, won the bronze medal, after beating Zimbabwe 1–0.

The final was held in Cape Town between Ghana and surprise package Libya. The match, like the entire tournament, was very tight and ended 0–0 and the champions were determined by penalties. After 6 penalties per side, it was not only Libya that won the tournament for the first time, but also the first continental title in its history. Although undefeated, the Arab team achieved one win in the tournament in their first match in the group stage against Ethiopia.

Congolese and Moroccan domination

The Leopards welcomed at N'djili Airport after winning the 2016 African Nations Championship.
Cameroon vs DR Congo at the 2020 African Nations Championship quarter-finals.

The 4th edition of the tournament was held form 16 January to 7 February 2016 in Rwanda[11] and DR Congo claimed their 2nd title defeating Mali, in the final for the first time and thus representing their best performance in the tournament, in the final by 3–0.

The 5th edition in 2018 was originally scheduled to be hosted in Kenya, but due to several delays in preparation and organization, CAF stripped the country of the hosting rights[12] and opened a new election process.[13] On 14 October 2017, CAF announced Morocco as the new host of the 2018 edition, which was played between 13 January to 4 February.[14] One of the main reasons why Morocco applied to be an organizer is because it was looking to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so the tournament represented one of the country's last chances to show itself as a strong candidate. The final pitted hosts Morocco and Nigeria; both teams undefeated throughout that edition of the tournament and only had a draw to their credit in their respective group stages. Morocco won the match 4–0,[15] winning the title for the first time and becoming the first host nation to win the tournament.[16]

On 7 February 2021, Morocco defeated Mali 2–0 in the 2020 Final, becoming the First Nation to win back-to-back titles.[17][18]

Sponsorship

On 21 July 2016, French energy and petroleum giant, Total S.A. (renamed TotalEnergies in 2021), secured an 8-year sponsorship package from CAF to sponsor its competitions, beginning the following year.[19]

Format

Qualification

For the first edition of the tournament in 2009, the group teams were allocated as follows:

  • One each for North, West A, West B, Central, and Central East
  • Two for the southern region
  • One for the host country of the final tournament

Since the second edition, in 2011, 16 teams have qualified for the tournament, allocated in this way (including the host country):

  • Northern Region: Two teams, out of 5, qualified through a single elimination round.
  • Western Region A: Two teams, out of 6, qualified through two playoffs.
  • Western Region B: Three teams, out of 7, qualified through two playoffs.
  • Central Region: Three teams, out of 5, qualified through two playoffs.
  • Central Eastern Region: Three teams, out of 8, qualified through two playoffs.
  • Southern Region: Two teams, out of 9, qualified through three playoffs.

Main Phase

Map of countries times titles as of 2020 African Nations Championship.

The 16 teams participating in the final phase are divided into four groups of four teams each. Within each group they face each other once, through the system of all against all. Depending on the result of each match, three points are awarded to the winner, one point to each team in case of a tie, and none to the loser.

The two best-ranked teams from each group advance to the next round. If at the conclusion of the group matches, two teams finish level on points, the following tie-breaking criteria apply:

  1. The highest number of points obtained taking into account all the group matches.
  2. The highest goal difference considering all group matches.
  3. The highest number of goals scored in favour taking into account all group matches.

If two or more teams are tied based on the above guidelines, their positions will be determined by the following criteria, in order of preference:

  1. The highest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams in question.
  2. The goal difference taking into account the matches between the teams in question.
  3. The highest number of goals scored by each team in the matches played between the teams in question.

If after applying the above criteria two teams are still tied, the above three criteria are reapplied to the match played between the two teams in question to determine their final standings. If this procedure does not lead to a tiebreaker, the following tiebreaker criteria apply:

  • Goal difference in all group matches.
  • Greater number of goals scored in all group matches.
  • Draw of the organising committee of the championship.

The second round includes all phases from the round of 16 to the final. The two semi-finalists qualify through the direct elimination system. The losing teams of the semifinals play a match for third and fourth place, while the winners play the final match, where the winner gets the title.

If after 90 minutes of play the game is tied, extra time is played in two stages of 15 minutes each. If the result is still tied after this extra time, the match is defined by the procedure of kicks from the penalty mark.

Results

Ed. Year Hosts Champions Score Runners-up Third place Score Fourth place No. of teams
1 2009  Ivory Coast
DR Congo 		2–0
Ghana
Zambia 		2–1
Senegal 		8
2 2011  Sudan
Tunisia 		3–0
Angola
Sudan 		1–0
Algeria 		16
3 2014  South Africa
Libya 		0–0
(4–3 p)
Ghana
Nigeria 		1–0
Zimbabwe 		16
4 2016  Rwanda
DR Congo 		3–0
Mali
Ivory Coast 		2–1
Guinea 		16
5 2018  Morocco
Morocco 		4–0
Nigeria
Sudan 		1–1
(4–2 p)
Libya 		16
6 2020  Cameroon
Morocco 		2–0
Mali
Guinea 		2–0
Cameroon 		16
7 2022  Algeria To be played To be played 18

Summaries

Team Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
 DR Congo 2 (2009, 2016) – – –
 Morocco 2 (2018, 2020) – – –
 Libya 1 (2014) – – 1 (2018)
 Tunisia 1 (2011) – – -
 Ghana – 2 (2009, 2014) – –
 Mali – 2 (2016, 2020) – –
 Nigeria – 1 (2018) 1 (2014) –
 Angola – 1 (2011) – –
 Sudan – – 2 (2011, 2018) –
 Guinea – – 1 (2020) 1 (2016)
 Zambia – – 1 (2009) –
 Ivory Coast – – 1 (2016) –
 Senegal – – – 1 (2009)
 Algeria – – – 1 (2011)
 Zimbabwe – – – 1 (2014)
 Cameroon – – – 1 (2020)

* hosts.

Participating nations

Countries coloured according to their highest ever achievement at the African Nations Championship.
  Champion
  Runner-up
  Third place
  Fourth place
  Quarter-finals
  Group stage
Team Ivory Coast
2009 		Sudan
2011 		South Africa
2014 		Rwanda
2016 		Morocco
2018 		Cameroon
2020 		Algeria
2022 		Years
 Algeria • 4th × × • • Q 2
 Angola • 2nd GS QF Q 4
 Burkina Faso • • GS GS GS • 3
 Burundi • • GS • 1
 Cameroon • QF • QF GS 4th Q 5
 Congo • × GS QF QF Q 4
 DR Congo 1st QF QF 1st • QF Q 6
 Equatorial Guinea × × GS • 1
 Ethiopia × × GS GS Q 3
 Gabon • GS QF GS × 3
 Ghana 2nd GS 2nd Q 4
 Guinea • • 4th GS 3rd • 3
 Ivory Coast GS GS 3rd GS Q 5
 Libya GS • 1st • 4th GS Q 5
 Madagascar Q 1
 Mali • GS QF 2nd 2nd Q 5
 Mauritania • × GS GS Q 3
 Morocco • • QF GS 1st 1st Q 5
 Mozambique • • GS Q 2
 Namibia • • QF GS × 2
 Niger • QF GS GS Q 4
 Nigeria • • 3rd GS 2nd • • 3
 Rwanda • GS QF GS QF • 4
 Senegal 4th GS Q 3
 South Africa • QF GS • 2
 Sudan • 3rd 3rd Q 3
 Tanzania GS • GS • 2
 Togo • • GS • 1
 Tunisia • 1st • QF × •• × 2
 Uganda • GS GS GS GS GS Q 6
 Zambia 3rd • • QF QF QF • 4
 Zimbabwe GS GS 4th GS • GS × 5
Total 8 16 16 16 16 16 18
Legend

Records and statistics

General statistics by tournament

Zouheir Dhaouadi the best player and scorer of the 2011 African Nations Championship.
Year Hosts Champions (titles) Winning coach Top scorer(s) (goals) Most valuable player
2009  Ivory Coast  DR Congo (1) Democratic Republic of the Congo Mutumbile Santos Zambia Given Singuluma (5) Democratic Republic of the Congo Trésor Mputu
2011  Sudan  Tunisia (1) Tunisia Sami Trabelsi Algeria El Arbi Hillel Soudani (3)
South Africa Myron Shongwe (3)
Sudan Mudather Karika (3)
Tunisia Zouheir Dhaouadi (3)
Tunisia Salema Gasdaoui (3) 		Tunisia Zouheir Dhaouadi
2014  South Africa  Libya (1) Spain Javier Clemente South Africa Bernard Parker (4) Nigeria Ejike Uzoenyi
2016  Rwanda  DR Congo (2) Democratic Republic of the Congo Florent Ibengé Democratic Republic of the Congo Meschak Elia (4)
Nigeria Chisom Chikatara (4)
Tunisia Ahmed Akaïchi (4) 		Democratic Republic of the Congo Meschak Elia
2018  Morocco  Morocco (1) Morocco Jamal Sellami Morocco Ayoub El Kaabi (9) Morocco Ayoub El Kaabi
2020  Cameroon  Morocco (2) Morocco Hussein Ammouta Morocco Soufiane Rahimi (5) Morocco Soufiane Rahimi

Highest goalscorers in a single tournament

The following players finished as top goalscorer with five or more goals in a single tournament.

Goals Player(s) Nation(s) Year
9 Ayoub El Kaabi  Morocco 2018
5 Soufiane Rahimi  Morocco 2020
Given Singuluma  Zambia 2009

Hat-tricks

Given Singuluma, the first player to score a hat-trick at the tournament.

A hat-trick is achieved when the same player scores three or more goals in one match. Listed in chronological order.

Sequence
 Player No. of
goals 		Time of goals Representing Final
score 		Opponent Tournament Round Date
1. Given Singuluma 3 36', 49', 50'  Zambia 3–0  Ivory Coast 2009 Group stage 22 February 2009
2. Chisom Chikatara 3 75', 81', 90'  Nigeria 4–1  Niger 2016 Group stage 18 January 2016
3. Ayoub El Kaabi 3 27', 65', 68'  Morocco 3–1  Guinea 2018 Group stage 17 January 2018

Consecutive championships

Teams that have won the African Nations Championship consecutively and have become two-time champions (two consecutive titles) or three-time champions (three consecutive titles).

Team Two championships
 Morocco 2 (2018, 2020)

 Morocco is the first and still the only team to host and win and retain CHAN.

Bold indicate tournament hosts

See also

References

  1. ^ "New tournament for Africa". BBC Sport. 11 September 2007. Archived from the original on 2 March 2009.
  2. ^ Sannie, Ibrahim (28 February 2009). "CAF plans to expand CHAN". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
  3. ^ "CAF Executive Committee Decisions". CAFOnline.com. 19 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Tunisia beat Angola in the CHAN final in Sudan". BBC Sport. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
  5. ^ "CHAN Henceforth Taken into Account in FIFA Rankings". Confederation of African Football. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Ghana 'favourites' to host 2018 CHAN after WAFU Nations Cup success". Ghana Soccernet. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Total African Nations Championship". TotalEnergies. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  8. ^ "DR Congo lift CHAN trophy". BBC Sport. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Nigeria 'do not have A and B teams' says Oliseh ahead of Nations Championship". The National. Abu Dhabi, UAE. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  10. ^ "African Nations Championship in Rwanda gives domestic talent a chance". African Football. The Guardian. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  11. ^ Komugisha, Usher (17 February 2015). "CAF sets dates for CHAN 2016". SuperSport. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  12. ^ "Kenya loses Chan hosting rights as Caf decides". Daily Nation. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  13. ^ "TOTAL CHAN 2018: Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Morocco are bidding for the organisation". CAFOnline.com. 1 October 2017. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2018. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 10 September 2020 suggested (help)
  14. ^ "Morocco will host Total CHAN 2018". CAFOnline.com. 15 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  15. ^ Isabirye, David (5 February 2018). "Morocco wins 2018 CHAN championship". Kawowo. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Hosts Morocco crowned CHAN champions". BBC Sport. 4 February 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  17. ^ Football, CAF-Confedération Africaine du. "Morocco win second CHAN title after defeating Mali in final". CAFOnline.com. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Morocco defeat Mali 2-0 to retain Chan title | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  19. ^ "Total to sponsor CAF competitions for the next eight years". Africanews. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
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