As the draw for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) approaches, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has reportedly made an unexpected approach to Algeria, inviting the country to participate in the upcoming tournament.
The draw, scheduled for January 15 in Nairobi, Kenya, will determine the groupings for the competition, set to take place from February 1 to 28.
Currently, 18 out of 19 teams have qualified for the tournament, with Rwanda having secured its place on the field, while 17 other teams are officially recognized by CAF.
However, there remains one final spot yet to be filled, and it is here that CAF has turned its attention to Algeria.
The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) had previously declared in September 2024 that it would forfeit its participation in the qualifiers for CHAN, opting to focus its efforts and resources on youth development in both men’s and women’s football.
This decision left Algeria out of contention for a spot in the tournament.
However, with several North African countries withdrawing from the competition, including Tunisia and Egypt, CAF now finds itself facing an imbalance in the representation from the region.
While Morocco remains the sole North African team in the competition, other regions, such as Central Africa (UNIFFAC), Southern Africa (COSAFA), and Western Africa (UFOA A and B), each have four teams, and East Africa is represented by three hosts—Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—along with Sudan.
CAF’s invitation to Algeria is aimed at addressing this regional imbalance, ensuring that North Africa is adequately represented in the tournament.
Additionally, there is a concern over the potential lack of media coverage, particularly in North Africa, which CAF hopes to avoid by encouraging Algeria’s participation.
Despite this approach, the FAF has not yet provided a response to CAF’s invitation.
Algeria’s football community, including coach Madjid Bougherra, who was recently reinstated as head of the A’ team, faces a significant challenge in preparing a competitive squad with less than a month remaining before the tournament kicks off.
La CAF fait appel à l’Algérie pour un rôle clé au CHAN ! ⚽ https://t.co/ePEXmKnj3x
— DZfoot (@DZfoot) January 7, 2025
The likelihood of Algeria’s participation seems uncertain given the time constraints and the short notice.
However, CAF’s efforts to balance the representation of regional football federations and increase media visibility for the competition underscore the importance of this year’s CHAN, especially in a year when several traditional North African football powers have stepped back from participation.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the FAF’s decision, and whether Algeria will join the competition or sit out.
