CHAN Is An Important Platform To Discover New African Stars – Rabah Madjer

Algerian legend Rabah Madjer has sent resounding support for the organization of the biennial TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) organized solely for players that feature in the domestic leagues in their countries.

Madjer, who was named the African Player of the Year in 1987 and won the AFCON with Algeria in 1990 at home, has spoken out and backed the organization of the biennial competition that is only unique to Africa.

“CHAN is an important platform to discover new African stars who can go on to shine at various other big international tournaments. I wish there was a CHAN tournament in the 1970s and 1980s because of its usefulness,” Madjer said.

“Football has developed. In yesteryears like in the 60s, 70s, and even the 90s, I wish there was an African championship organized for the local players for each local player to prove his level.”

“However, at that time the majority of the local players were active in the first team and as we saw, all Africans proved their prowess in international teams, and I can, for example, talk about our generation in Algeria, which proved its capabilities against international teams in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.”

Madjer, who competed at both World Cups, will always be remembered for his wonder goal against Germany which was Algeria’s first ever goal at a World Cup and that it orchestrated the famous 2-1 win to become the first time an African team emerged victorious at a World Cup.