8th February, 2016
DR Congo midfielder Mechack Elia was the big winner on Sunday in Kigali at the awards ceremony of the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Rwanda.
However, Chisom Chikatara, who scored four of his team’s total number of five goals in three matches played, was the only Nigerian who won honours at the competition.
He made the Best XI team, even though as a substitute.
Elia, who scored twice for the Congolese in their 3-0 victory over Mali in the final match, picked up the Best Player and Top Scorer awards.
He got the latter award after four goals and two assists, while he was also chosen in the competition’s Best XI.
Goal of the tournament went to N’Guessan Serge of Cote d’Ivoire in the match against Cameroon while the Fair Play Trophy went to the DR Congo.
In the best XI named after the final, DR Congo had the most representatives with six players, including substitutes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition is only open to footballers who play in their country’s local leagues.
Best XI
Goalkeeper: Ley Matampi (DR Congo)
Defenders: AbdoulKarim Danté (Mali), Joël Kimwaki (DR Congo), Ibrahim Camara (Côte d’Ivoire), Mohamed Youla (Guinea)
Midfielders: Ibrahima Sankhon (Guinea), Mechack Elia (DR Congo), N’Guessan Serge (Côte d’Ivoire), Hamidou Sinayoko (Mali)
Forwards: Jonathan Bolingi (DR Congo), Sekou Koïta (Mali)
Substitutes: Badra Sangaré (Côte d’Ivoire), Djigui Diarra (Mali), Lomalisa Mutambala (DR Congo), Heritier Luvumbu (DR Congo), Daouda Camara (Guinea), Aka Essis (Côte d’Ivoire), Ernest Sugira (Rwanda), Ahmed Akaïchi (Tunisia), Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria), Christopher Katongo (Zambia).