By Samindra Kunti
January 15 – Hosts Morocco opened the fifth edition of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a thumping win against neighbours Mauritania, putting forward their credentials as a renewed force in African football both on the pitch and as hosts of major tournaments.
Morocco defeated their local rivals 4-0 to open the tournament in style. The North Africans stepped in to replace Kenya as organisers of CHAN after the Kenyans failed to meet deadlines and provide the requisite infrastructure for the tournament.
In October 2017 an emergency meeting of CAF’s executive committee decided to strip Kenya of its hosting rights and move the competition to Morocco, who had not staged a senior national competition since the 1998 African Cup of Nations, though the country did host the FIFA Club World Cup in 2013 and 2014.
The move marked a return to the inner sanctum of CAF’s political elite after a period in the cold. In 2015 the Moroccans were stripped from the right to host Africa’s flagship tournament and flung out of the competition after, as organising country, they expressed fears over the Ebola epidemic, which gripped parts of the continent at the time. CAF pressed the Moroccans to change their minds, but Morocco refused to stage the tournament in February.
Equatorial Guinea stepped in as a last minute replacement, but relations between CAF and Morocco became strained. Staging the 2018 CHAN at short notice may also indicate Morocco is ready to host the African Cup of Nations again. Cameroon will organise the next continental tournament in 2019 but is currently battling to pass CAF’s inspection team requirements. Ivory Coast have been chosen as hosts in 2021.
Morocco has bid for the 2026 World Cup, the only opposition to the generally favoured joint-bid of the USA, Mexico and Canada to stage the tournament. CAF president Ahmad Ahmad has backed the North Africans to bid for the tournament. “We are convinced that Morocco could organise this competition just as South Africa did in 2010,” said Ahmad. US president Donald Trump’s reported comment about “shit-hole” countries will likely have galvanised African opinion at least towards Morocco.
The country is no stranger to World Cup bids having launched four bids in the past, but missing out on the 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2010 editions. Last week the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced its bid team, with advisors announcing a strategy aimed to “shape the vision of a welcoming, passionate and authentic tournament in one of Africa’s most dynamic nations.”
As part of its 2026 credentials pack, Morocco will want to stage a good CHAN. The host cities are Casablanca, Marrakech, Tangiers and Agadir. About 500 journalists from 33 countries have been accredited. Attendances have so far been on the low side in the opening weekend, except for the hosts’ opening game.
In 2009 CAF introduced the tournament for players from Africa’s domestic leagues. Ivory Coast hosted an eight-team finals which was won by DR Congo. In 2011, the tournament was expanded to 16 teams.
Current champions DR Congo failed to qualify for the finals. They lost a regional qualifier against Congo Brazzaville.
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