The local Teranga lions of Senegal will take on the desert foxes of Algeria on Saturday in the final of the 2022 African Nations championship (CHAN).
The game is scheduled for the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers as from 19h30 GMT.
Host Algeria is reaching their first ever CHAN final, in their third participation after finishing fourth in the 2011 edition. The same story holds for Senegal, who are also in their third CHAN participation and their best ever run in the competition is a fourth place finish in the maiden edition in 2009.
Senegalese football on a Rise
Senegalese football has hit an upward curve in recent years and it’s yet another opportunity for Pape Thiaw and his team to write their own piece of history.
The local Teranga lions are only making a comeback after missing out four editions of the competition meant for home based players who ply their trade in the leagues in their home countries. Throughout their 12 years absence from the CHAN, Senegal was probably putting in place a team to conquer Africa.
The likes of Generation Foot of Dakar’s Midfield metronome Lamine Camara, have been decisive in propelling Pape Thiaw’s side to the final of CHAN 2022, played in 2023 in Algeria.
Now the big challenge for Pape Thiaw Will be to replicate the successes that Aliou Cissé and co have recorded in over a year.
As a matter of fact, Senegal is current African Nations cup winners and also the Beach Soccer AFCON winners, trophies they won in 2022.
Senegal can become the first Nation to win all three major continental competitions in less than a year. The desire to become reigning champions for the treble, can be a boast for captain Cheikhou Ndiaye and teammates, when they take on host Algeria on Saturday.
Can Senegal spoil Algeria’s party ?
“We will face Algeria in the final. The game will be played in front of their fans. We will study them and see how to handle it. A final is a final,” Senegal’s coach Pape Thiaw said after their semi-final game against Madagascar.
Algeria is yet to conceded a goal at CHAN 2022 they’re hosting and are the book makers favorites to clinch the trophy.
The Desert foxes have scored nine goals and kept five clean sheets and keeping a 100 percent win ratio.
For the Teranga lions, their only defeat in the competition was in the Group stage against Uganda. Pape Thiaw’s side has scored six goals and conceded one, keeping four clean sheets.
Saturday’s finale will see the Competition’s top scorer Aymen Mahious, go head-to-head with best young player of the competition Lamine Camara.
Not matter what happens at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday, either Algeria or Senegal will win the African Nations championship for the very first time.
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