January 14, (THEWILL) – In the opening match of the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Friday, hosts and title favourites, Algeria edged out Libya 1-0.
The match, held at the 40,000-seat Stade Nelson Mandela in Algiers, was attended by Algerian Prime Minister, Aymen Benabderrahmane, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and CAF President, Patrice Motsepe.
Aymen Mahious found the net in the 57th minute after a weak back pass led to him being fouled by goalkeeper Muad Allafi. He got up and converted the resulting penalty. There were no other goals for the remainder of the game.
Algeria is competing in CHAN, a tournament reserved for footballers playing in their country of birth since they finished fourth in their previous appearance 12 years ago. On Saturday, Ethiopia will play Mozambique at the same venue in the other opening-round match in the mini-league. Following this, a Group B double-header will take place in the northeastern city of Annaba, with two-time champions, the Democratic Republic of Congo facing Uganda, followed by Ivory Coast taking on Senegal.
A total of 17 countries are competing in the tournament, which was first staged in 2009 in the Ivory Coast and won by DR Congo. Morocco, the previous winner, will be looking to defend their title.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
