IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS OF THE WEEK 3
Picture : Morocco won the last edition of the CHAN in 2018.
CHAN 2020 - REPORT 17 TO 21 JANUARY 2021
Sunday 17
DR Congo top Group B as victory and draw mark debut.
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Ushindi Wa Kubanza' 46th minute goal did not only put the DR Congo on the first spot but was also significant in that it was the first goal ever to be scored in an official game at the Japoma Stadium. The Simbas of the DR Congo's 29-shirted player, Henock Inonga Baka was voted the Man-of-the-Match in which the Red Devils of the neighboring Republic of Congo lost chances to draw level.
In an earlier group match, Libya and Niger trifled away several scoring chances and so closed the day with a point a-piece to occupy the 3rd and 4th spots, respectively.
If anything, the 12,500 seats toned down from 50,000 in respect of barrier measures against the Covid-19 pandemic were all taken up by fans in acknowledgement of popular views that the Japoma Stadium is truly a world class stadium.
Monday 18
Morocco, the essential
Group C of the 6th Total African Nations Championship went underway Monday night at the Reunification Stadium, Bepanda, Douala with defending champions, Morocco defeating Togo 1-0 in the first game. Yahya Jabrane got the goal at the 27th minute by transforming the first penalty in the competition. Debutants, Togo fought back but fell short of the equalizer as Morocco carried the day and their player, Soufiane Rahimi being voted the Man-of-the-match.
The second game began with fears of power outage with three interruptions just before the kick-off. Rwanda and Uganda played to a 0-0 tie, but the spotlight was on Rwanda's 13-shirted Fitina Omborenga who emerged Man-of-the-match.
Tuesday 19
Guinea rout Namibia 3-0 in a lopsided Group D fixture.
The Sily Nationale of Guinea routed the Brave Warriors of Namibia in a Group D fixture in Limbe to close the round of first matches of the group phase. Barry Yakhouba also became the first man to score a brace in this year's edition with his goals at the 13th and 85th minutes. Sylla Morlaye scored at the 56th minute for Guinea to make it a 3-0 victory, also emerging as the Man-of-the-match.
In the earlier group match, the Chipolopolo of Zambia defeated the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 2-0, following a penalty transformed by Collins Sikombe at the 62nd minute and by Emmanuel Chabula at the 81st minute. Collins was also voted the Man-of-the-match.
Wednesday 20
Zimbabwe, first to be eliminated at Total CHAN 2020.
The Warriors of Zimbabwe are the first team to be eliminated at the Total African Nations Championship Cameroon 2020 after their second consecutive defeat in Yaounde last night. The Warriors and the Stallions of Burkina Faso treated fans to exciting football at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium and closed the night on a 3-1 situation for the later.
Match 10 of the competition registered the first goal through Issouf Lagnene Sosso whose blistering right foot grounder from near 20m found the net at the 15th minute. The equalizer from the Warriors was registered at the 23rd minute when Parton Jaure spun the ball out of the reach of keeper Aboubakar Sawadogo. Clavert Jean Kiendebeogo gave the Stallions the lead at 54th minute. And then the third and last goal was scored at the 68th minute by substitute Issiaka Ouedraogo. While Ismahila Ouedrago of Burkina Faso celebrated his Man-of-the-match achievement, that second consecutive defeat mathematically eliminated the Warriors from competing in the knockout phase.
In an earlier match played at the same venue, the Intermediate Lions of Cameroon and the Eagles of Mali fought themselves to a standstill, closing the night on 1-1. Salomon Banga of Cameroon registered his second goal in the tournament when he raised the curtains, nodding home from a set piece at the 6th minute. The equalizer by the Eagles came in at the 12th minute when Issaka Samake took the free kick straight into Haschou Kerido’s net. Malian player Moussa Kyabou was voted the Man-of-the-match. Both teams top the Group A with 4 point each.
Thursday 21
Dramatic equalizer at last moment
The timer indicated that Libya and the Democpublic of Congo had virtually exhausted the 3 minutes of stoppage time with Libya up 1-0 when Congolese player, Ernest Luzolo Nsita collected the ball some 25 metres from the goal posts and unleashed a thunderbolt that overpowered the Libyan goalkeeper for the equalizer. The first goal had been scored at the 6th minute by Muetaz Husayn. At 1-1, predictions that Group B could be decided by just a draw between the two top leaders have been shoved aside in favour of a more complicated calculus. The Man-of-the-match award was taken home by Libyan midfielder, Abdullah Abdul Rahiman.
In the second match, Mapata Mouandza of the Red Devils of the Congo raised the curtains at the 34th minute. The reply from Les Ménas of Niger came in at the 69th through Moussa Issa Mossi. And then Congolese player, Mick Itali Ossete was voted the Man-of-the-match.
Group C takes the relay this Friday evening at Reunification Stadium at Bepanda with the matches, Morocco versus Rwanda, and then later Uganda versus Togo.