Morocco and Angola national football teams arrived in Kigali, yesterday, ahead of the fourth edition of the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) which kicks off Saturday and runs through February 6.

Morocco’s Lions of Atlas who are Group A along with Rwanda’s Amavubi, Cote d’Ivoire’sLes Éléphants and Gabon’s Les Panthères, were the first to jet into the country, at 1a.m, aboard RAM AT4431.

Their delegation includes a 23-strong squad dominated by players from giants Raja Casablanca and FUS Rabat – who supplied the team with five players each.

The team is based at Grand Legacy Hotel Remera. The Lions of Atlas will launch their CHAN campaign against Gabon at Amahoro National Stadium on Saturday, at 18p.m, shortly after Rwanda’s  opening match against Cote d’Ivoire.

Meanwhile, Angola’s Palancas Negras became the second team to land in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ yesterday, at 12:30pm, aboard South African Airlines.

Later in the evening, Angola headed to Huye in the Southern Province where they will play their Group C matches against DR Congo, Ethiopia and Cameroon.

The Angolan delegation of 37 people includes 23 players. They will stay at Galileo Prestigious Hotel.

The Palancas Negras kick off their CHAN campaign on January 17 against Cameroon at Huye Stadium after DR Congo Vs Ethiopia opening Group C tie.

DR Congo team arrived in Rwanda through the Rubavu-Goma border on Friday last week, two days before their friendly match against Rwanda that ended 1-0 in favour of the hosts.

DR Congo are also expected to head to Huye today.

Rwanda Group opponents Cote d’Ivoire are expected to land in the country early afternoon today before proceeding to Lemigo Hotel, where they will stay during the tournament.

Also expected to arrive today are the Zambian team who will proceed to Gorilla Hotel in Rubavu, as well as Niger who will stay at Gorilla Hotel in Nyarutama.

Nigeria, Tunisia, Guinea and Cameroon are expected to arrive on Friday, while Mali and Uganda are scheduled to arrive on Saturday.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw