BEVERLY HILLS, February 03, (THEWILL) – When the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) was conceived as a continental Cup competition exclusively for domestic-based players in Africa, one of the objectives was to provide exposure for talented and gifted young players excelling quietly in their local leagues but far from the eyes and consideration of scouts across the continent and abroad.
The CHAN was to be a platform to bring these African talents to the limelight with an opportunity to display what they are capable of, compete at a continental level and where possible attract the kind of career-altering attention that can be of considerable benefits to their national teams in future.
That objective is being realised as some players who have shown exceptional football skills and excelled at the ongoing CHAN have already made big gains from their participation in the tournament in Cameroon by signing lucrative contracts with clubs outside their domestic football.
It is even more remarkable that this is taking place even before the tournament ends at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Sunday. There are already four players that are counting the benefits of featuring for their respective countries in this year’s CHAN.
From all indications, THEWILL expects that more players will secure moves to clubs abroad when the tournament ends as those involved in the semi-finals are concentrating on winning the title for their countries rather than allowing themselves to become sidetracked with the negotiations to seal transfer deals.
Among those who have secured a change of fortunes based on their good showing for their countries in the tournament include the remarkably impressive Uganda midfielder Saidi Kyeyune.
27-year-old and pacy, the midfielder, who was the Cranes’ best performer at the tournament after scoring two impressive long-range goals against Togo and Morocco, has been signed to El Merreikh, the giants of Sudanese football.
The signing will see Kyeyune leave local club Uganda Revenue Authority Football Club (URAFC) to boost the Sudanese side ahead of their participation in continental club competition especially as they are billed to contend against Egyptian heavyweights Al Ahly.
Confirming the deal, the club posted on their social media platforms: “Ugandan international and URA Kampala’s attacking midfielder is officially red. Welcome Kyeyune.”
Kyeyune inflamed the football passion of the hearts of many in Cameroon with his 35-yard piledriver that beat the Togolese goalkeeper in the CHAN meeting between Togo and Uganda.
The young player expressed his happiness at the opportunity to join a continental club with an impressive history in African football and domestically, as well.
“It is a great opportunity to be part of the winning team,” the midfielder wrote on Twitter.
Another CHAN performer signing for a club playing in the CAF Champions League is Zimbabwean power defender Peter ‘Master of Defence’ Muduhwa.
The mercurial centre back leaves local side Highlanders FC in a deal to play for Tanzanian club Simba FC and improve their domestic and continental fortunes.
“Welcome to the big family of Tanzania champions defender Peter Muduhwa ‘Master of Defence’,” Simba tweeted via their official Twitter account to confirm the deal.
“We as the Simba family welcome you with both hands and we believe you will help us perform well in the CAF Champions League and the Simba Super Cup.
“Muduhwa, who joins us from Zimbabwean outfit Highlanders FC, has arrived to seal the deal from Cameroon where he was representing Zimbabwe in the African Nations Competition.”
Simba’s business with CHAN did not stop with Muduhwa as they also copped DR Congo’s midfielder Doxa Gikanji from his local side Daring Club Motema Pembe. Gikanji’s exploits from midfield gave Congo a stability in the middle of the park that was involved in advancing their game forward and cutting off intrusions into their area from the opponents.
Simba will hope Gikanji can replicate that form in their ranks as their continental hopes hang in the balance with their group also featuring tough opposition as continental football powerhouse Al Ahly of Egypt and El Merreikh of Sudan.
Finally, Burkina Faso’s defender Soumaila Ouattara has signed out of his local side Rahimo FC in search of greener pastures in the attractive Morocco top-flight league, north of the continent.
Ouattara signed a contract with Raja Casablanca to become their fourth and last foreign player ahead of the start of local and continental competitions for the season. The 25-year-old was scouted during the CHAN and has been signed to bolster Raja’s squad.
The tournament will conclude on Sunday giving some other players in the semi-final the chance to seal their own moves based on the opportunities existing for their skills showcased for the world to see during the CHAN.
One such pending deal involves South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, who have been strongly linked with Cameroon player Loic Ako Assomo. This is in addition to stories making the rounds that some other clubs in Africa, some in Europe and Asia have targeted several players from Guinea, Mali and Morocco who gave a good account of themselves in Cameroon.
It is a worthy fulfillment of the existence of CHAN and their participation in the tournament has become a boon for their careers with the type of exposure their talents got and this has also created a new fan base for the stars of the competition which will grow as they progress in their careers.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
