TOTAL CHAN 2020: Libya vs Niger, All you need to know

By Anye Nde Nsoh
Sports Writer kick442.com-Cameroon

Libya will measure weight with Niger in the first game of group B in the Japoma Omnisport Complex in Douala. The game will be played Sunday January 17, 2021 at 17:00pm.

What to Note

Libya comes in to this game considering it as home game and first game of the tournament. They will be seeking for another trophy since 2014 when they emerged runners up in South Africa

Libya is grouped in pool B, alongside DR Congo, Congo and Niger. In this group Niger was the first country to land in Cameroon in preparation for the continental jamboree.

The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) recently released a list of players to participate at the 6th edition of the CHAN. The team includes 28 players from seven clubs that are playing in Libya’s premier league, which was suspended for about 18 months.

Arrival

Coach Montenegrin Zoran Filipovic and boys landed through the Douala International Airport Wednesday January 13, 2021 and will be looking forward to another title of the CHAN after maiden trophy during the CHAN 2014, beating the Black Stars of Ghana 4-3. This was on penalties to emerge champions at the Cape South stadium in South Africa sponsored by Orange.

Coach Harouna Doula Gabde and boys touched down Cameroon’s Nsimalen airport Friday 1 January 2020. They competed in the Pre-CHAN mini tournament recording impressive results

Qualification

Libya gained a placed in CHAN Cameroon following the withdrawal of Tunisia, the Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) confirmed Libya as replacement for the Total CHAN Cameroon 2020. As per the tournament regulations, Libya lost to Tunisia in the Northern Zone qualifiers, and automatically completes the qualified teams for the final tournament.

Niger qualified by beating Ivory Coast 2-1 on aggregate to grab the lone ticket. Winning 2-0 at home and being defeated 1-0 by Ivory coast om home soil making it 2-1 aggregate

Coach

Their head coach Montenegrin Zoran Filipovic is the third coach of Libya assisted by Mohamed Al-Kikli. He comes after Tunisian Faouzi Benzarti and local Ali Merguini were shown the door. Zoran Filipovic has previously worked in Africa 10 years ago, saving South African Premiership club Golden Arrows from relegation during 12 months with the Durban club.

Doula Gabde Harouna, better known as Harouna Doula is a Nigerien football manager and former player. He was Manager of the Niger national football team from 2009 to 2012, leading Niger to its first African Nations Cup qualification in 2012, their first African Nations Championship qualification in 2011, and the winning of the UEMOA Tournament in 2010. He was demoted following the first match loss at the 2012 Nations Cup finals.

Titles

South Africa hosted the 2014 CHAN where Libya emerged as winners.
Libya finished second in Group C with five points.
In the Quarterfinal, they scaled through Gabon hurdle with a 4-2 victory on penalties.
They also faced the same scenario in the semi-final with a 5-4 penalty win over Zimbabwe.
Libya penalty stories didn’t change in the final as they defeated Ghana 4-3 to win their first CHAN title.

This is their third participation in the CHAN Niger is yet to have a taste of the African Nations Championship CHAN Trophy. Reasons why they gave in their all during the four nations Pre-CHAN mini tournament in Yaounde fine tune tactics abd be ready for the battle ahead. Coach Harouna Doula Gabde of the Mena of Niger have had a firm ground in Cameroon preparing for the CHAN. Niger was able to record a 3#3 in their opener against Zambia and succeeded in beating the intermediate lions of Cameroon 2#1 on day two of the Pre-CHAN invitational tournament.

They are drawn in group B joining the likes of Congo, DR Congo and Lybia. The team finished 2011 edition at the quarter-finals, which till date remains their best performance at the CHAN competition

Niger have been involved in a series of friendlies against Mali and Morocco, separating in a one all draw against the former and a 0#2 defeat to the latter.

The Mena defeated Cote Divoire 2#1 on aggregate to grab a ticket to the CHAN.

Coach Harouna Doula recently named his 28-man squad to take part in the Pre-CHAN and CHAN.

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