The 2024 forthcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) will be the eighth edition after the inception of the tournament in 2009.
The competition meant for players plying their trade in respective domestic leagues kicks off in 29 days in East Africa’s three countries; Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Co-hosts Tanzania will battle Burkina Faso in the opener at the 60,000-seater Benjamin Mkapa stadium, Dar es Salaam.
In this first of our series of the countdown to the tournament that start on August 02 and ends on August 30 in Nairobi, Ismael Kiyonga brings you the hosts, winning coaches, top scorers and winners of each of the previous 8 editions.
- First Edition Year: 2009
- Hosts: Cote d’Ivoire
- Champions: DR Congo
DR Congo local Leopards beat Ghana local Black Stars 2-0 in the final to lift the inaugural trophy in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009.
It was perfect revenge for DR Congo who lost 3-0 to Ghana in Group B where they had Libya and Zimbabwe as other opponents.
Alain Dioko Kaluyituka and Hugues Bedi Mbeza scored the goals in the final.
Santos Mutumbile was the coach, Given Singuluma of Zambia won the golden boot with 5 goals while Tresor Mputu (DR Congo) was the tournament MVP.
- Second Edition Year: 2011
- Hosts: Sudan
- Champions: Tunisia
Tunisia won the second edition beating Angola 3-0 in the final in Khartoum where Sudan hosted the tournament.
It was a second half blitz from the Tunisians with goals from Mejdi Traoui, Zouheir Dhaouadi and Oussama Darragi sealing the victory.
Sami Trabelsi was the winning coach, Zouheir Dhaouadi the MVP and the golden boot was shared by five players including Dhaouadi, his compatriot Salema Gasdaoui, South African Myron Shongwe, Mudathir Karika (Sudan) and El Arbi Hilel Soudani of Morocco.
- 3rd Edition Year: 2014
- Hosts: South Africa
- Champions: Libya
Spanish Javier Clement, the only foreign coach to win the edition did it for Libya who beat Ghana 4-3 on penalties after a goalless stalemate in extra time.
Bernard Parker (South Africa) clinched the golden boot with 4 goals while Nigeria’s Ejike Uzoenyi was the MVP.
- 4th Edition Year: 2016
- Hosts: Rwanda
- Champions: DR Congo
Arguably the most exciting tournament in the history of the competition as DR Congo lifted their second title with a triumph over Mali in the final as Elia Meschak double and Jonathan Bolingi goal sunk the West Africans.
Legendary Florent Ibenge was in charge of the Congolese as Meschak won the MVP gong and also joined the top scorers Ahmed Akaichi (Tunisia) and Nigerian Chisom Chikatara with 4 goals each.
- 5th Edition Year: 2018
- Hosts: Morocco
- Champions: Morocco
It was an-all Morocco tournament as they thumped Nigeria 4-0 in the final to lift it for the first time.
Zakaria Hadraf netted a double, Walid El Karti got the other goals along with Ayoub El Karbi who top scored with a record 9 goals and also the MVP to help coach Jamal Sellami win it.
- 6th Edition Year: 2020
- Hosts: Cameroon
- Champions: Morocco
The local Atlas Lions of Morocco became the first national team to defend the crown when they overcame Mali 2-0 thanks to goals from Ayoub El Karbi and Soufiane Bouftini.
It was another sweep for Morocco again as they produced the winning coach – Hussein Amouta as well as MVP and top scorer (5 goals) Soufiane Rahimi.
- 7th Edition Year: 2022
- Hosts: Algeria
- Champions: Senegal
Senegal won the previous edition hosted in Algeria to complete a sweep of all African football titles after they also won in the under-age category, beach soccer and the Afcon.
Pape Thiaw guided the local Lions of Teranga to a 5-4 penalty shootout win against the hosts as Aymen Mahious of Algeria won the top scorer gong with 5 goals while compatriot Houssem Eddine Mrezigue was the MVP.
8th Edition Year: 2025
Hosts: Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania
Champions: Who will it be?