Veteran Christopher Katongo Inspires Zambia To Beat Zimbabwe In CHAN Group D Opener

The decision to include two veteran Zambian internationals and Africa Nations Cup gold medal winners in their CHAN 2016 squad has paid off, as Isaac Chansa scored the decisive goal for Zambia to beat Zimbabwe in their opening game at Rwanda 2016.

Chansa and Chris Katongo both started the game for Chipolopolo and their role in guiding the younger players and adding a touch of class was evident for all to see.

It took just four minutes for the game’s opening scoring opportunity when Chris Katongo beat his marker at the near post and managed to turn a left wing cross towards goal with his head, but the ball was just wide of the goalposts.

Then Zambia made more inroads into the Zimbabwe defence in the 11th minute as Katongo slipped the ball to Mwape, but his shot at goal was off the mark as he shot while slightly off balance.

Two minutes later Zimbabwe got their first shot at goal when Chitiyo found space inside the danger area and fired in a powerful shot only for Banda to save well.

Inside the final ten minutes of the first half, Isaac Chansa let rip with a powerful effort from long range, but the ball just flew wide of the target.

Zimbabwe should have scored in the 45th minute when Chirambadare got in behind his marker and burst into a one on one situation with goalkeeper Banda, but his left footed shot had too much curl on it and the ball swerved wide of the far upright.

The second half started with some intent and there were some half chances in the first few minutes, but in the 58th Isaac Chansa made certain with an acrobatic volley at the far post following an excellent, curling cross to the far post.

Zimbabwe should have equalised in the 72nd minute when they got into space on the left side of Zambia’s 18 area and flashed a shot across goal, but the ball could not find the inside of the far post.

Zambia held onto their slender lead and scored a valuable three points in their opening game of the tournament.

Veteran Christopher Katongo Inspires Zambia To Beat Zimbabwe In CHAN Group D Opener

Tunisia, Guinea Play To Entertaining 2-2 Draw In CHAN 2016 Group C Opener

Tunisia and Guinea got Group C at the 2016 African Nations Championship off to an entertaining start as they played to a 2-2 draw in Kigali on Monday afternoon.

Ahmed Akaichi and Alseny Camara Agogo were the heroes of the day, scoring a brace apiece for the Carthage Eagles and Syli Nationale respectively.

The North Africans will feel they have let two point slip out of their hands, having twice held the lead while also hitting the woodwork on two separate occasions, while Guinea will be satisfied with the result on their CHAN debut.

After a quiet opening period in which no clear chances were created by either team, Tunisia opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when Ahmed Akaichi cleverly flicked home Hamza Mathlouthi’s low cross from the right flank.

Just a minute later the North Africans had a chance to double their advantage, slicing through the defence to give Akaichi a one-one-one chance with goalkeeper Abdoul Aziz Keita, but the attacker’s effort hit the crossbar.

Guinea struck back in the 40th minute, with a well-worked move allowing Ibrahima Sory Bangoura to put a ball across the face of goal which Zied Derbali inexplicably failed to clear, leaving Alseny Camara Agogo an easy finish for 1-1.

The West Africans almost took the lead in the first minute of injury time before the interval, with Ibrahima Sory Sankhon shooting on target from a free kick only to be denied by a fine diving save from Rami Jeridi.

The Carthage Eagles reclaimed the lead six minutes into the second half and Akaichi was again the man who found the back of the net, this time running onto a long ball out of defence before beating the ‘keeper at his near post to make it 2-1.

Tunisia hit the crossbar for second time in the 81st minute, with Zied Derbali getting on the end of a corner kick and sending a header onto the woodwork, but just two minutes later they were pegged back for a second time. A Guinean corner kick picked out substitute Jean Mouste, whose clever header back into the danger zone allowed Camara Agogo to fire home a sharp volley and make it 2-2.

The teams will be in action again on Friday in the second round of Group C matches: Tunisia will tackle Nigeria, while Guinea face Niger.

Tunisia, Guinea Play To Entertaining 2-2 Draw In CHAN 2016 Group C Opener

CHAN 2016: Chikatara Hat-Trick Sinks Niger As Super Eagles Go Top

After a frustrating goalless first half, second-half substitute Chisom Chikatara smashed home a hat-trick for Nigeria to dump Niger and go top of Group C in the 2016 CHAN.

The opening game between Tunisia and Guinea finished in a 2-2 draw, meaning both teams split the points with Nigeria top on three points.

Nigeria went ahead just seconds after the restart when striker Tunde Adeniji floated a cross from the left for the lively Osas Okoro to stab home.

Then enter Abia Warriors young striker Chikatara, who came on as a 58th minute sub for Adeniji to score Nigeria’s second goal on 74 minutes.

It was a superb goal as the man of the man chested a long searching ball by Okoro, before he fired past a helpless goalkeeper Alzouma.

However, Niger pulled a goal back through substitute Zakaria Adebayor in the 81^st minute, when his thunderbolt from distance gave Nigeria goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa no chance.

But just before Niger could celebrate the goal, Nigeria responded with a second goal for Chikatara off another assist by Okoro.

And in stoppage time, the 21-year-old Chikatara completed his hat-trick when he finished off a through ball from Prince Aggreh.

The Abia Warriors front man could even have scored more goals, but he lacked the composure inside the box with the Niger goal at his mercy.

But before all these goals, the two West African teams had played out a dull, goalless first half with Niger frustrating the Eagles with their offside tactic.

Nigeria struggled to impose themselves over Niger, who have been solid and organised at the back even if they hardly threatened when going forward.

Aggreh and Osas Okoro on both flanks went behind the Niger defence on a number of occasions, but the final finish deserted Sunday Oliseh’s team.

The pacy Aggreh struggled with his decision making in front of goal if not Nigeria would have been ahead early in this encounter.

The tempo was slow and ponderous in a game in the first period, but all that was forgotten with five cracking goals after the interval to wrap up an exciting match day at the CHAN in Rwanda.

CHAN 2016: Chikatara Hat-Trick Sinks Niger As Super Eagles Go Top

Atouba Emane Gives 10-Man Cameroon Victory Over Angola In CHAN 2016

A stunning free kick by Yazid Atouba Emane midway through the first half saw a 10-man Cameroon hold on for a hard-fought 1-0 win over Angola at CHAN 2016.

The Group B clash started off slowly and there was not much to celebrate inside the opening ten minutes as both teams felt each other out and did not take too many risks.

But late in the game, and especially after Cameroon defender Joseph Ngwem was sent off, Angola were all over Cameroon and should have found their way back into the game given all the chances they had, with livewire substitute Mateus especially impressive.

Angola did have a half chance in just the opening few minutes after a botched Cameroon clearance, but Adriano Duarte could pick out the corner with his curled attempt at goal.

But after 21 minutes, Cameroon won a free kick in a very good area just in front of the D-line of Angola’s 18 area. Atouba Emane did very well to curl the set piece around the wall and into the corner of goal to make it 1-0.

A great attacking move down the left wing by Angola in the 34th minute saw an excellent cross just fail to meet the head of an Angolan striker and Cameroon were able to clear the danger.

Angola had a good chance just before half time when a long range shot took a deflection, but the pace of the ball slowed down and Cameroon keeper Nyame was able to save easily.

Five minutes into the second half and Angola’s dangerman Adriano Duarte saw his powerful ground shot saved in what was a good passage of play from Angola.

Angola continued to push hard for an equalizer and on the hour mark big centre back Fabricio got on the end of a deep cross, but his strong header flew just over the bar.

Then in the 66th minute Cameroon had a defender sent off as Ngwem lunged into a tackle carelessly and was given his marching orders.

As a result Angola upped their attack and began asking questions of the Cameroon defence with substitute Mateus twisting and turning his way through the Cameroonians.

Angola should have got the leveler in the 84th minute when they created space and Miguel cut inside on the left wing and fired a shot at goal only for the Cameroon defence to block the goal-bound shot.

Atouba Emane Gives 10-Man Cameroon Victory Over Angola In CHAN 2016

CHAN 2016: DR Congo Cruise To Comfortable 3-0 Win Over Ethiopia

Héritier Luvumbu was the star of the show as the Democratic Republic of Congo cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over Ethiopia in a Group B 2016 African Nations Championship clash at the Stade Huye in Butare on Sunday.

The AS Vita midfielder played a part in all three goals as The Leopards enhanced their credentials as one of the favourites for the crown in Rwanda.

After an equal start to the game, Florent Ibenge’s troops started to dominate with Luvumbu stating his intent on 32 minutes – forcing Mamo into a good save from long range.

DRC entered the tunnel at the break a goal up, Guy Lusadisu with a towering header from a Luvumbu cross a minute before the interval.

The fans were still finding their seats as Luvumbu doubled the 2009 champions lead with a power header two minutes after the break.

This before the knockout blow followed in the 57th minute – Luvumbu burst down the left flank before firing in a pin-point cross, which left Meschack Elia with an easy finish.

DRC next face Angola on Thursday while Ethiopia will be eager to bounce back against Cameroon.

CHAN 2016: DR Congo Cruise To Comfortable 3-0 Win Over Ethiopia

Gabon And Morocco Draw Goalless In CHAN 2016 2nd Match

Gabon and Morocco played to a dull 0-0 draw in their Group A 2016 CAF African Nations Championship match at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Saturday evening.

It was a cagey start, with both sides aiming to settle down in the contest, not to commit early mistakes and there were no clear-cut chances after 10 minutes of action.

The Atlas Lions dominated the tie after the 10th-minute mark as they pushed forward in search of an early lead, however, winger Abdelilah Hafidi saw his shot going wide in the 15th minute.

On the other hand, Stephane Bounguendza’s men were stable at the back but they lost the ball easily in the midfield, and Ness Younga attempted a shot from the edge of the box but it went wide.

Mohamed Fakhir’s men nearly caught the Panthers napping when Abdessamad El Mobaraky received a pass from a quick free-kick, but his shot went wide after the 35th minute.

The game lacked free flow and was dominated by fouls and long balls, but in the last five minutes of the half Morocco came close to bagging a lead when Abdeladim Khadrouf nearly beat Bitseki – his shot went across the mouth of the goal with nobody to finish it off.

With a few minutes to go, Ondo Biyoghe saw his spectacular bicycle kick going wide of goal and it was 0-0 at half time.

After five minutes into the second stanza, Morocco took the game to Gabon but the Panthers remained steady at the back, with Mobaraky taking a long range shot looking to put it in the top corner, but Bitseki showed great reflexes and collected.

After 80 minutes in the encounter, the game became an interesting affair but then goals wouldn’t come as both sides wasted their opportunities.

Bitseki came out to stop Morocco’s attack and a few moments later Boumpenza nearly bagged the three points for Gabon, but his header went wide off the far post.

In the injury time, Mario Mandrault beat his man and surged forward but his final shot let him down as the shot flew way too wide.

The draw means both sides have one point apiece and the hosts, Rwanda, lead the standings with three after beating Cote d’Ivoire 1-0.

Gabon And Morocco Draw Goalless In CHAN 2016 2nd Match

Rwanda Beat Cote d’Ivoire In CHAN 2016 Opening Match

A solitary goal by Bayisenge Emery ensured Rwanda defeated Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 during their Group A 2016 CAF African Nations Championship opening match at Stade Amahoro in Kigali on Saturday afternoon.

Johnny McKinstry’s men started like a house on fire, with his charges taking the game to the Ivorians and the Rwandans fully behind them.

However, the match was dominated by fouls in the middle of the park, with Rwanda fouling Koffi Boua, but six minutes later the hosts delivered a pin-point cross from the right only for goalkeeper Ali Sangare to collect easily.

In a follow-up attempt, Innocent Habyarimana unleashed a grass-cutting shot in the 15th minute which couldn’t give keeper Sangare any troubles as it went wide.

A minute later, Emery netted from a fine free kick, beating Sangare in the 16th minute to hand the hosts the lead, and the culprit Koffi Mercelin went into the referee’s book for a foul.

Michel Dussuyer’s side kept probing despite Amavubi’s superiority in the middle of the park, however, Boua’s cross failed to meet the intended target and it sailed across the face of goal in the 22nd minute.

With the match heading to the interval, the Elephants’ Boua couldn’t connect with the ball following a great run behind the defence and it was 1-0 at the interval.

Just after coming from the tunnel, the hosts were awarded a penalty when Isenge was brought down in the box. Emery took it but his attempt was saved by Sangare in the 60th minute.

With 13 minutes to go, Rwanda’s Isenge started a great move but he failed to connect with a return pass in the box and in their swift response, the Elephants’ Guiza missed a great opportunity to level matters: with the keeper off his line, his shot went over the bar.

In the 80th minute Dussuyer’s men kept the hosts under pressure and Guiza was unfortunate as he hit the woodwork with the keeper Ndayishimiye left stranded and beaten hands down.

In the end, McKinstry’s side held onto their lead and walked away with the full three points as the top Group A.

Rwanda Beat Cote d’Ivoire In CHAN 2016 Opening Match

Referee Joseph Lamptey To Officiate CHAN 2016 2nd Match Between Gabon And Morocco

Ghanaian referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey will officiate the second match of the CHAN 2016 tournament between Gabon and Morocco.

The tournament which kicks off today in Rwanda with see the hosts take on Cote d’Ivoire in the opening match, a game that will be officiated by Malagasy referee Hamada El Moussa Nampiandraza who will be assisted by Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue of Cameroon and South African Mothibidi Stevens Khumalo with Ali Lemghaifry of Mauritania as the fourth official.

Referee Joseph Odartei Lamptey will be assisted by fellow Ghanaian compatriot David Laryea with Marwa Range of Kenya the other officcial.

The fourth official for the Gabon and Morocco is Kenyan Davies Ogenche Omweno, in what completes a Ghana-Kenya combination.

Referee Joseph Lamptey To Officiate CHAN 2016 2nd Match Between Gabon And Morocco

CHAN 2016: Rwanda Ready For Big Kick Off

The fourth edition of a unique senior national team tournament kicks off in Rwanda Saturday with Nigeria and Tunisia among the title favourites.

Only footballers playing in their country of birth are eligible for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), whose matches are recognised by FIFA as full internationals with results counting toward the monthly rankings.

A brainchild of CAF president and acting FIFA president Issa Hayatou, the CHAN was introduced to give local stars national team experience they would not ordinarily get because overseas-based compatriots are preferred.

Labelled the ‘baby brother’ of the Africa Cup of Nations, the CHAN has the same format with 15 qualifiers and the hosts split into four groups from which winners and runners-up advance to the quarter-finals.

The home-only rule will have little effect on finalists like Rwanda and Ethiopia, the bulk of whose leading footballers perform in the domestic championships.

But the Ivory Coast CHAN squad bares no resemblance to that which competes in the Cup of Nations and is dominated by Europe-based stars like four-time African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure.

However, France-born Ivorian Cup of Nations coach Michel Dussuyer is also in charge of a CHAN selection in which first-time champions AS Tanda have six players. Franco-Pole Henryk Kasperczak fills a similar role for Tunisia, but gallbladder surgery prevented him travelling to Rwanda and assistant Hatem Missaoui takes charge.

Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh sees little difference between the Africa Cup of Nations and the African Nations Championship tournaments.

“We do not have A and B teams,” he stressed in South Africa while preparing for the 22-day CHAN, which will be staged at four venues, two of them in the capital Kigali.

“They are all national squad players with the only difference being that some play abroad and others at home.”

Tunisia and Nigeria are the first and second seeds in Group C and it would be a shock if they failed to reach the knockout stage at the expense of Niger and debutants Guinea.

Nigeria defender Samson Gbadebo is brimming with confidence after the West Africans beat Ivory Coast and drew with Angola in Pretoria warm-up matches against fellow finalists.

“There is nothing to worry about in our group. We will start with a victory against Niger and top the standings.

“Our players compete in a leading African national championship and I believe we have what it takes to go all the way.”

Oliseh is wary of Tunisia, whose squad contains many of the stars who helped Etoile Sahel beat Orlando Pirates of South Africa in the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup final. “Tunisia have a strong domestic league and many of the CHAN squad also play in the Cup of Nations,” he said.

The draw did Rwanda no favours with Gabon, Ivory Coast and Morocco the strong Group A rivals of a host nation coached by 30-year-old Johnny McKinstry. “Rwandans can be confident that our squad will give everything in pursuit of good performances,” was the reassuring message from the Irishman.

Democratic Republic of Congo, winners of the maiden CHAN in Abidjan seven years ago, and Cameroon look the strongest sides in Group B, which is completed by Angola and Ethiopia. But choosing two likely quarter-finalists from Group D contenders Mali, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe is difficult.

Zambia have chosen midfielder Isaac Chansa and striker Christopher Katongo, pivotal figures in the team that mocked the form book by winning the 2012 Cup of Nations.

Recalled after two years in the international wilderness, the veterans said they were “humbled by the call-ups and the confidence shown in their abilities”.

Source: AFP

CHAN 2016: Rwanda Ready For Big Kick Off