The 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN), the continental tournament exclusively for players competing in domestic leagues, began on Saturday in Tanzania, jointly hosted with Kenya and Uganda.
This edition is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, with shifting dynamics and unsettled squads across the board.
Yet, several nations emerge as prime contenders to lift the coveted trophy.
Algeria – redemption on their minds
Algeria, still nursing the wounds of their heartbreaking final defeat on home soil in the last edition, initially opted out of CHAN 2025.
However, a change of heart saw them enter the play-offs, where they dispatched Gambia to secure their place.
Under Madjid Bougherra’s stewardship, the Fennecs are relying on the stability of seasoned figures like Aymen Mahious and Zakaria Draoui.
The departure of playmaker Adil Boulbina to Qatar is a blow, but Algeria’s core remains robust, determined to go one step further this time.
Morocco – favourites despite unsettled preparations
Morocco, winners in 2018 and 2020, return with the clear ambition of reclaiming their CHAN crown following their absence from the last edition in Algeria.
Their squad boasts talents such as Youssef Belammari, who has senior international experience, and Mohamed Moufid, fresh from the Club World Cup with Wydad Casablanca.
Yet, preparations have been far from ideal.
A wave of last-minute player exits to foreign clubs forced coach Tarik Sektioui into a hasty squad overhaul.
A sobering 3-1 home defeat to Burkina Faso in a recent friendly has raised questions about their readiness.
Senegal – champions in transition
Senegal, the reigning CHAN champions, naturally enter the tournament as favourites, though their squad has undergone significant changes.
Only one player, Serigne Koité of Jaraaf, remains from their victorious 2022 campaign.
The team, now under Souleymane Diallo following Pape Thiaw’s promotion to the senior side, endured two concerning defeats in pre-tournament friendlies against Uganda and Tanzania.
Their challenge will be to blend youthful vigour with the weight of their champion status.
Nigeria – is this their moment?
Nigeria’s local Super Eagles are brimming with promise, raising hopes that this might finally be their year.
Under the guidance of Eric Chelle, who also leads the senior national team, Nigeria boasts a balanced squad.
Junior Nduka of Remo Stars fortifies the defence, Harrison Austin from Ikorodu City anchors the midfield, and Nasarawa United’s Anas Yusuf, the league’s top scorer, spearheads the attack.
Talent is not in short supply; the question is whether they can convert potential into silverware.
Outsiders with ambitions
DR Congo, two-time CHAN winners, arrive with a legacy to defend but face a turbulent backdrop of club struggles, generational transition, and disjointed preparations marred by logistical hiccups.
Despite their storied history, expectations are tempered.
South Africa, meanwhile, presents a wildcard.
Fielding a squad composed largely of unattached players, with only a handful from top-tier clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns, coach Molefi Ntseki is banking on sheer determination and tactical discipline to overcome a lack of match fitness.
Madagascar and Niger, both surprise semi-finalists in the previous edition, return eager to prove their feats were no fluke.
Their restructured squads will need to rediscover the cohesion and unpredictability that made them formidable underdogs.
As the tournament unfolds, the race for the CHAN crown promises drama, ambition, and a showcase of Africa’s finest local talents, each nation dreaming of continental glory.