By Nji Nelson Chefor
Sports writer, kick442.com Cameroon.
The Total African Nations Championship, CHAN, gets underway in Cameroon on January 16, 2020 with some 16 teams to contest for the trophy.
The 16 participating teams have been drawn into four different groups of four teams each.
Group C of the competition will be based at the Reunification stadium in Douala.
Group C is made up of defending champions Morocco, debutants Togo, Eastern African representatives Uganda and Rwanda.
Morocco
Morocco are coming into this competition as the defending champions. They became the first country to host and win the trophy in 2018 during the 5th edition of the competition. They beat Nigeria 4#1.
The North Africans will be appearing for the fourth time at the continental tournament, having made their debut in 2014 in South Africa.
The Atlas Lions got as far the quarterfinals six years ago, topping Group B ahead of Zimbabwe, Uganda and Burkina Faso before losing a 4-3 thriller after extra time to Nigeria.
In Rwanda in 2016, Morocco was eliminated in the first round, as they finished behind Ivory Coast and hosts Rwanda in Group A.
Morocco will open their campaign on January 18, 2021 in Douala when they face tournament debutants, Togo. Four days later they take on Rwanda, while their group stage campaign will be wrapped up on January 26 when they battle Uganda.
Togo
Togo will be making its debut in the tournament. They stunned Nigeria 4#3 on aggregate to qualify for the tournament.
Just as they stunned Nigeria to book a place in the tournament, they will be a team to watch out for because they can spring surprises.
Togo will open it’s campaign against defending champions Morocco on January 18.
Uganda
Uganda having missed out on the first edition of the CHAN in Ivory Coast in 2009, made their debut appearance in 2011 in Sudan as teams were increased to sixteen till date and since then, they have been regulars, participating in the 2014 edition in South Africa, 2016 in Rwanda, 2018 in Morocco and now 2020 that will be held in Cameroon.
Uganda has failed to progress past the group stages in all the editions where they have participated in.
The team has set their eyes on going pass the group stage for the very first time. They begin the campaign on January 18 against their CECAFA opponents Rwanda.
Rwanda
Rwanda will be in it’s fourth participation when the Total African Nations Championship, CHAN gets underway in Cameroon.
Their best participation was in 2016 when they hosted the tournament and were eliminated at the quarter finals.
The Coaches
Hussien Ammouta of Morocco.
Hussein Ammouta was born on October 24, 1969. He is a former Moroccan footballer and one time coach of Wydad Casablanca. He previously played as a midfielder, and had spent his entire playing career in the Middle East and Africa. He competed in the men’s tournament at the 1992 Summer Olympics.
His experience as a player and as a coach in the African continent will give Morocco and added impetus.
Hussien Ammouta led Morocco to winning the trophy in 2018
Johnathan McKinstry of Uganda.
Jonathan McKinstry was born on July 16, 1985. He is a Northern Irish football manager and the current head coach of the Uganda national football team, since September 2019. He also coaches the local national selection.
He previously managed the Rwanda national team, the Sierra Leone national team, Kauno Žalgiris in the A Lyga and Saif SC of the Bangladesh Football Premier League. Whilst in charge of Sierra Leone, McKinstry was the youngest international manager in the world at 27 years old.
Jonathan Mckinstry won the CECAFA Challenge Cup with Uganda in 2019.
Vincent Mashami of Rwanda.
Vincent Mashami is a Rwandan football coach who was appointed manager of the Rwandan national team in August 2018. Prior to his appointment, he has previously coached the national team at the youth level, and also club side APR.
Jean-Paul Abalo of Togo
Jean-Paul Abalo was born on June 26, 1975 in Lome, Togo. He is a former Togolese defender.
He took over as coach of the local national selection in January 2018, and stunned Nigeria to qualify Togo for their first ever CHAN.
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