The fourth edition of Africa’s second biggest football event, the Orange Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) kicks off today as hosts Rwanda start their campaign against Ivory Coast at Amahoro national stadium.

The biennial event has attracted 16 African countries each with a 23-man squad, which makes it a total of 368 players from the participating nations where each player will be out to outshine the others and claim the tournament’s best player award.

The three-week tournament, which is reserved for only home-based players, will be played at four venues—Amahoro National Stadium, Kigali Regional Stadium, Huye and Umuganda Stadiums.

Saturday Sport takes a look at the players expected carry the biggest responsibility of guiding their respective teams to glory.

Rwanda

Jacques Tuyisenge

Born September 22, 1994, the Amavubi captain will be out to prove why Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia coughed $40,000 (about Rwf30 million) for his signature from Rwanda Police FC this week.

The transfer fee is the known most expensive deal ever involving a Rwandan player from a local side—he penned a two-year deal and will join the Kenyan giants immediately after CHAN.

The 24-year-old forward was Amavubi’s top scorer at the 2015 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia with three goals, in addition to being by far the most prolific player in Johnny McKinstry’s youthful outfit.

He also netted the only goal as Rwanda beat DR Congo 1-0 in a friendly match on Sunday in Rubavu, and will carry the burden of scoring the goals that will give the hosts a chance to progress to the knockout stage.

While Tuyisenge will be running in search for goals, at the back, he will be assured of a steady defence, which will be led by Emery Bayisenge, who appears to have returned to his top form after missing the start of the season following his flopped pro move to Austrian second division side Lask Linz FC.

Ivory Coast

Boua Koffi Davy

The 27-year-old striker, who plays for AS Tanda netted the lone goal against Ghana which helped Les Elephants to qualify for finals tournament on away goal advantage after a 2-2 draw. Ivory Coast had lost 2-1 in the first leg.

Morocco

Abdesslam Benjelloun

Born 28 January 1985, the FAR Rabat center forward is one of Morocco’s national team most experienced players. Having played for a number of several clubs home and abroad, Benjelloun has made 22 appearances for the national team scoring 7 goals, and will be biggest threat for the opposition.

Gabon

Mario Bernard Mandrault

Mario Bernard Mandrault is a striker for Gabon’s topflight outfit AS Pélican. Gabon faces a tough test as they are grouped with hosts Amavubi, Cote d’Ivoire and Morocco.

However, their hopes lie on their front man Mandrault, who took part in each of their qualification matches and scored the second goal in the 2-0 win away to Chad to seal qualification.

Zambia

Conlyde Luchanga

Born on March 11, 1997, the Lusaka Dynamos FC striker opened his scoring account on his Chipolopolo debut against Mozambique during the 2016 CHAN qualifiers just a few minutes after coming in as a second half substitute.

The 18-year-old also scored a scorcher for Zambia against South Africa at the U23 AFCON in Senegal.

Chipolopolo will also rely on the vast experience of their inspirational captain Christopher Katongo, who received a surprise recall after a 14-month ‘exile’ in a bid to bolster Zambia’s fortunes.

Uganda

Farouk Miya

Farouk Miya turns up for the reigning Uganda Super League champions Vipers FC—the 18-year-forward had a tremendous year at both club and national team levels.

He helped the Kobs when they dismantled their Rwandan counterparts during the 2015 U23 AFCON qualifiers, scored a brace against Togo in the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup qualifiers and led the Cranes to the 2015 CECAFA Cup title, scoring 3 goals on the way.

Nigeria

Ikechukwu Ibenegbu and Ifeanyi Matthew

Ikechukwu ‘Mosquito’ Ibenegbu and emerging star Ifeanyi Matthew have so far impressed for the Super Eagles particularly during the CHAN preparations.

Ibenegbu scored the Eagles goal against Angola in a warm-up match in Pretoria and his leadership and overall contribution in the midfield has won him the admiration of coach Sunday Oliseh.

Versatile Nigeria U20 midfield star Ifeanyi Matthew has already been tipped to go all the way and be a full international.

DR Congo

Jonathan Bolingi

Bolingi has emerged as one of Democratic Republic of Congo’s key strikers since making his international debut on October 15, 2014 against Ivory Coast, helping them win 4-3 away in Abidjan in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying group stage.

Bolingi, 21, arrived in Lubumbashi-based TP Mazembe in 2010 after a brief stint in Kimbangu Sport, he was loaned to the club of Don Bosco, where he won the Cup of Congo and proves to be the key man for the Lepoards.

Angola

Dany Traça, Manguxi

The Plancas Negras striker will be vying to maintain his fine form having been phenomena throughout the team’s qualifying and subsequent friendlies. He was the hero with a late equalizer in the 1-1 draw in Angola’s last build up match against Nigeria.

Guinea

Daouda Camara

Born on March 12, 1994, Camara is Guinea’s midfield maestro and was the star of the game during the last preparation game against Angola after scoring the only goal of the game a minute before the break.

However, Guinea’s other influential figures include; Abdoulaye Samake and Aboubacar Mouctar Sylla.

Niger

Idrissa Halidou Garba and Kofi Dankwa

Born July 3, 1982 and September 19, 1989 respectively, the duo of Halidou and Dankwa plays for Niger’s first division league sides Sewe Sport de san Pedro and ES Narzis respectively. Throughout their CHAN qualification road, most of Niger’s victories came from the effort to these two men.

Ethiopia

Elias Mamo

They have once won the Africa Cup of Nations but that was way back in 1962 when they hosted it however, history has failed to repeat itself for this horn of Africa country ever since.

Though that is not to say they can’t win the title because the team has been boasted by the talents in the shape of Elias Mamo Mulualem Tilahun and Gatoch Panoc.

In addition, there is also the return to the team of Asrat Mengeha, Tesfaye Alebachew and Alula Girma, which is a great motivation for the team.

Mali

Aly Malle

Born April 03, 1998, this young sensational is captain of the Mali team for the CHAN 2016 finals.

The AS Black Stars forward Malle, who enjoyed a runner-up finish with the ‘Eaglets’ at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 last November, has emerged as a real talent and could be target by several foreign clubs after the event.

Cameroon

Ronald Ngah Wandja

Born September 12, 1991, Wandja is a bully center forward, who will give torrid times to defenders. He led his side to the qualification of this tournament scoring the sole goal against Congo Brazil and has since been the leader of the striking force for Cameroon.

Zimbambwe

Rodreck Mutuma

Born 5 April 1988, Mutuma is currently playing for Dynamos Harare whom he joined after being released by South African Premier Soccer League club Bloemfontein Celtic last year.

Despite a modest form at club level, Mutuma is a big motivation to Zimbabwe national team as a result of his maturity and experience in front of the goal having been a regular starter in the national team in all of its qualification games.

Tunisia

Rami Jeridi and Abdelkader Oueslati

Born April 25, 1985, Jeridi is the first choice goalkeeper for both CS Sfaxien and Tunisia national team—he has established himself as one of the elites in this department on the continent.

Another key player for Tunisia is Club Africaine right back/winger, Oueslati, who was born October 7, 1991and is likely to be a great threat for his opponents mainly because of his amazing dribbling and crossing skills.

From 2010-2014, Oueslati played at Spain’s second division side Atletico Madrid B, making 69 appearances and scoring four goals.

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