This Saturday in Algiers, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) drew lots for Chan 2022. Shifted by a year, the competition will take place from January 13 to February 4, 2023, in Algeria, and will oppose for the first time not 16 but 18 teams, which will give rise to 3 groups of 4 teams and 2 pools of 3.
Seeded, the Algerian host country was relatively spared by inheriting Libya, Ethiopia and Mozambique. While the last two named have never made it past the group stage, neighboring Libya will represent the biggest rival for Madjid Bougherra’s men, but the Libyans, winners of the competition in 2014, have lost their luster in recent years and remain on a first-round elimination.
Double defending champion, Morocco inherited Sudan, Madagascar and Ghana. If the Malagasy will discover the competition, the Atlas Lions will be wary of Sudan, which finished 3rd in the tournament twice, and Ghana, twice 2nd.
With DR Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Uganda, Pool B promises to be hotly contested. Crowned twice, the Leopards start as favorites but will remain vigilant against the Senegalese, back in force after missing 4 editions, and the Ivorians, absent in 2020. Uganda has never crossed the chickens.
In the pools of three, Mali, the unfortunate finalists of the previous edition, started out as favorites in Group D, but expects to play two “finals” against their Mauritanian neighbor and Angola, who will give their all. Same situation in Pool E for Cameroon who will have to be wary of Niger and Congo, quarter-finalists of the two previous editions.
