After two years of waiting since 2014, Rwandans are now counting hours before CHAN 2016 kicks-off on Saturday. The opening game will see hosts Rwanda take on giants Ivory Coast at 4pm at Amahoro national stadium. The event slated for January 16 to February 7 in Kigali, Huye and Rubavu is biggest international sports event to be staged in Rwanda. In our series of CHAN teams, Times Sport profiles Group C teams which are Nigeria, Niger, Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea. Group C matches will be played at Kigali Regional Stadium, Nyamirambo. Tunisia The North African Nation is among favourites, not only in Group C but also favorites to win the tournament. Ranked fourth on the continent and 40th globally in the newly released FIFA rankings last week, group opponents can only expect a rough run against Henryk Kasperczak’s side. Tunisia will be making their second appearance in the biannual tournament after 2011 debut at the second edition in Sudan, a tournament they easily won after routing Angola 3-0 in the final. Should Les Aigles de Carthage of Tunisia win this year’s edition, it will be the first team to win the tournament for a second time. Nigeria The Super Eagles of Nigeria can be written off, considering the last edition’s performance held in South Africa in 2014,Sunday Oliseh’s Nigeria are one of the nations to fear, forget the fact that they are currently ranked 14th in Africa and 66th globally. Two years ago in South Africa, Nigeria beat Zimbabwe 1-0 to win the bronze medal after failing to book a ticket to the final at hands of Ghana in semi-finals in a clash that ended 4-1 on penalties after both sides had played a goalless draw in regular time. Same as Tunisia, Nigeria are also making their second appearance in tournament’s history after debuting at the 2014 show. They had previously failed to qualify for the 2009 (Ivory Coast) and 2011 (Sudan) editions. Niger Niger is also appearing in CHAN for the second time, having made a debut in 2011 in Sudan. The West African country was ranked 103rd in FIFA rankings a fortnight ago, and is the least ranked nation of the group, spectators can only hope to see Niger stunning highly rated giants at Stade de Kigali in Nyamirambo. At the 2011 edition, Niger finished second in Group B behind South Africa but were sent packing in quarter-finals by hosts Sudan 4-3 on penalties after a 1-all draw in regular time. The team starts off its quest for the title against Nigeria on January 18; they play Guinea next on 22nd before meetingTunisia four days later. Equatorial Guinea Marking their debut at the 4th edition of the tournament, Equatorial Guinea are arguably the underdogs of the group and will only live to prove a point in Kigali. The 2015 AFCON hosts will have a tough hurdle to overcome but can’t be underestimated, even Libya won the 2011 competition against all odds. Ranked 69th in the latest FIFA rankings, the Central African country has named a strong squad and head coach Kanfory Lappé Bangoura is eying a historic performance. Nzalang Nacional of Guinea will start their bid for first CHAN crown against Tunisia on January 18th, take on Niger four days later before wrapping up group stages games against titans of Nigeria on January 26th.
