From August 2 to 30, Africa’s homegrown talent will take center stage as the African Nations Championship (CHAN) kicks off across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
This month-long tournament, reserved exclusively for players active in their domestic leagues, is more than just a contest for silverware. It’s a showcase of grit, passion, and national pride ,a proving ground where local heroes earn continental recognition and write their names in the fabric of African football history.
But before the new generation steps onto the pitch, it’s only right to revisit the trailblazers who shaped the tournament’s identity.
Tresor Mputu: The Maestro of CHAN 2009
The inaugural edition of CHAN in 2009, hosted by Côte d’Ivoire, belonged to one man ,Tresor Mputu. Nicknamed The Maestro, Mputu was the heartbeat of DR Congo’s midfield. While he scored just once during the tournament, his vision, ball control, and tactical intelligence dictated the tempo in every match.
He was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, captaining DR Congo to the first-ever CHAN title. Already a household name at TP Mazembe, Mputu’s résumé was stacked: CAF Champions League winner in 2009 and 2010, top scorer in both the 2007 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, and Glo-CAF Best African Player Based in Africa in 2009.
Tresor Mputu Mabi
His 41 goals in CAF club competitions still stand as the all-time record. Mputu retired in 2023 at the age of 37. He has since entered politics in the DRC and currently serves as team manager at TP Mazembe
and academy scout, nurturing the next wave of Congolese talent.
Robert Kidiaba: The Icon with the Bounce (2009)
Mention CHAN and TP Mazembe, and Robert Kidiaba is impossible to ignore. Known as much for his legendary “bum-shuffle” celebration as for his cat-like reflexes, Kidiaba was a cornerstone of the 2009 DR Congo squad.
Robert Kidiaba
The veteran shot-stopper was instrumental in the title run, producing crucial saves and commanding his backline with authority. Off the back of CHAN success, he backstopped TP Mazembe to two CAF Champions League titles and played a key role in their historic 2010 FIFA Club World Cup final appearance.
In 2009, he was named in the CAF Team of the Year, a nod to his dominance between the sticks.Post-retirement, Kidiaba followed a different path, elected Member of Parliament in 2019, while remaining in the game as a goalkeeper coach for TP Mazembe and the DR Congo national team.
El Arabi Hilal Soudani: Algeria’s CHAN Globetrotter (2011)
El Arabi Hilal Soudani used CHAN 2011 as his launchpad. The Algerian winger finished among the tournament’s top scorers and quickly earned his first call-up to the senior national team.
What followed was a decorated career abroad. Soudani became a key figure at Dinamo Zagreb, where he bagged goals for fun and clinched five Croatian league titles. In 2017, he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year.His club exploits earned him a spot in Algeria’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, and he went on to play in Portugal, England, Greece, and Saudi Arabia. Now 37, he continues to lace up his boots for NK Maribor in Slovenia.
Bernard Parker: The Engine of Bafana Bafana (2014)
CHAN 2014 might have ended early for South Africa, but Bernard Parker left his mark. The tireless forward netted four goals to claim the Golden Boot, despite Bafana Bafana’s group stage exit.
South Africa’s Bernard Parker in action
Parker’s link-up play, off-the-ball movement, and clinical finishing underlined his status as a top-tier attacker. His performances laid the groundwork for a stellar domestic career at Kaizer Chiefs, where he spent over a decade, lifted two Premier Soccer League titles, and became a fan favorite.
He also won the Eredivisie with FC Twente in the Netherlands.Now retired from playing, Parker has transitioned into coaching, currently leading the TS Galaxy DDC side while serving as assistant coach for the senior team, grooming South Africa’s next generation.
Chisom Chikatara: The Nigerian Revelation (2016)
The 2016 CHAN in Rwanda marked the breakout of Chisom Chikatara, nicknamed The Kolanut Boy. Coming off the bench against Niger, the Nigerian striker scored a sensational hat-trick, instantly grabbing headlines.
Chisom in action
He followed that up with another goal against Tunisia, finishing among the tournament’s top scorers despite Nigeria’s early exit. His performances earned him a move to Wydad AC, where he was part of the squads that lifted the 2017 CAF Champions League and 2018 CAF Super Cup.
Though his stint in Morocco was mixed, Chikatara carved out a career across Africa. At 30, he is reportedly linked with a move to Abia Warriors in Nigeria,continuing to chase the game with the same hunger that stunned CHAN fans years ago.
As CHAN 2024 begins, these legends remain proof that this tournament is more than a scouting fair ,it’s a launchpad for greatness.
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