Two matches will be on the cards when the 2022 African Nations Championship (CHAN) enters its third day in Algeria.2016 and 2022 finalists Mali will take on Angola in the first match as neighbours Cameroon and Congo compete for bragging rights and a vital three points in their opening games at the continental competition when they face off in the Central African Derby. Here is a preview of the action.Estes são os jogos de hoje na #TotalEnergiesCHAN2022.🇲🇱🇦🇴🇨🇲🇨🇬 a estrear na competição. 👇👇 pic.twitter.com/vkNmIrHytf— MARHABA (@CAF_Online_PT) January 16, 2023 Mali vs Angola – 1900EATMali coach Diané Nouhoum is cautious that his side need to have the right mindset ahead of their Monday opening game against Angola at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran, Algeria.The Eagles, who are making their fifth CHAN appearance, have only lost their opening game once and that was at their debut edition in 2011 when they lost 1-0 to Côte d’Ivoire consequently failing to make it out of the group stages.Mali conquistou a medalha de prata em 2016 e em 2020.🥈🥈Angola foi medalha de prata em 2011. 🥈Quem será capaz de conquistar a #TotalEnergiesCHAN2022? pic.twitter.com/VmWRX7KcVK— MARHABA (@CAF_Online_PT) January 16, 2023 In 2016 and 2020, they reached the CHAN final falling to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco respectively but this decent record which should ideally give Nouhoum and his side confidence has been dismissed by the coach who instead wants the Eagles to stay focused on their opener against Palancas Negras.“It is not easy in Mali because every season, we lose players who move to other leagues in Africa and Europe, so our CHAN team changes a lot. Now, we are back to rebuilding a new team but looking at what we have achieved by qualifying to come here, we have registered some good results,” Nouhoum said in the pre-match press conference.##NAJAVA_MECA_6945017##“For me as a coach, we shall play one game at a time, and we must play to win. Even if we have less experience, we must do the very best that we can to deliver,” he said.Even though Nouhoum does not have the comfort of the entire team from the 2020 edition that were finalists, the Malian tactician will look towards the eight returning players that will provide experience to the newer faces.My conscious is clear, match-fixing suspect Daniel Kiptoo saysAngola reached the CHAN 2011 final losing 3-0 to eventual winners Tunisia in Sudan and even though it is more than a decade ago, head coach Pedro Gonçalves has borrowed from that performance to motivate the current team.“We have a fine balance in the team. For us, it is important that we do well. What we wish to do and what we can do, there is a big gap but I can say that we are positive ahead of our first game against Mali. A lot has changed since 2011 but we are encouraged by that performance,” explained Gonçalves.🇩🇿 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ 🇩🇿#TotalEnergiesCHAN2022 pic.twitter.com/DGjGKFQU3l— MARHABA (@CAF_Online) January 15, 2023 Cameroon vs Congo – 2200EATCongo head coach Jean Elie Ngoya Obackas is hyped ahead of their opening Group E tie against neighbours Cameroon at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium in Oran, Algeria.The Red Devils are competing in the continental competition for the fourth time having reached the quarterfinals in the past two editions in 2018 and 2020 and want to better it.##NAJAVA_MECA_6945025##Cameroon coach Alioum Saidou expects his side to approach every game as a final when they kickoff their campaign.The Intermediate Lions, who finished fourth at the last edition at home two years ago, are under pressure to match their performance back then or better it.Team Kenya sweeps two Gold medals, ranks top in regional tennis tourney held in Burundi“We are Cameroon. What is important for us is to play this match and win it. We have been preparing for some time and our players are looking forward to this. A game against Congo is a derby but we are ready for this level,” explained Saidou.“Of course, playing in a three-team group is tricky and every game is a final. We have a good team and we played friendly games to prepare before coming here so we are confident. We have no choice but to deliver for our fans.”Additional reporting by CAF
