Tactical Analysis: Breakdown of the ever-evolving role of fullbacks at CHAN 2024

CHAN 2024 has so far showcased a fresh, distinctly African interpretation of the full-back role - one where wide defenders push high early in possession, not only providing attacking width but also acting as deep-lying initiators of forward play.

Instead of only being confined to overlaps or late-phase contributions, full-backs in this tournament have demonstrated influence from the very first phase of buildup. Their advanced positioning, line-breaking passing, and capacity to destabilize defensive structures reflect a broader tactical maturity in African football.

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The notable performances of players like Hossi Chitanga (Angola), Youssef Belamari (Morocco), Samb Layousse (Senegal), and Jooste (South Africa) highlight how full-backs are evolving into critical architects of attacking play.

Angola: Full-Backs as Attack Starters

Few teams in CHAN 2024 have embodied this trend better than Angola. Their full-backs, Chitanga on the right and Gogoro on the left, have played as quasi-wingbacks, stretching the pitch and becoming reliable attacking outlets. What sets them apart is not just their positioning, but their intent.

Receiving the ball deep from the centre-backs, they do not play it safe. Instead, they drive forward, breaking lines with incisive diagonals and threading balls into the channels.

Angola’s Full-Backs Chitanga Hossi(RB) and Gogoro(LB) positioned themselves high to stretch play

Against Kenya, this approach paid dividends. Angola’s full-backs pinned back the Kenyan wingers, making it difficult for them to initiate quick counters.

Chitanga, in particular, had a standout performance. Time and again, he made overlapping runs that dragged Kenya’s left-back Abud Omar out of position. Even when Kenya’s left centre-back and left-back teamed up to contain Hossi, he managed to overpower them with sharp dribbles and sudden bursts of pace, eventually delivering a precise cutback to Paciencia, their striker, for the goal.

Hossi beats 1v2 in Kenya’s box to set up Paciencia for the goal

It was a textbook demonstration of a full-back initiating the attack and completing it with an assist - bypassing multiple defensive layers in the process.

This system does not just rely on stamina or crossing ability. Angola’s full-backs are technically adept and tactically intelligent, making them capable of bypassing midfield congestion and launching attacks from deep with minimal touches.

Morocco: Pinning Opposition and Progressing the Play

Morocco have also embraced a dynamic use of full-backs. Youssef Belamari (left) and Moufid (right) serve as dual engines along the flanks, frequently receiving the ball directly from their centre-backs and driving forward to progress play. What distinguishes their approach is the balance between ball security and verticality.

Rather than recycling possession sideways or backwards, Morocco’s full-backs look to break lines- either with low-driven passes into central midfield or lofted deliveries to wingers running into the channels.

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In their match against Kenya, this strategy was on full display. Belamari’s advanced starting position continuously drew the attention of Kenya’s right-sided players, creating overloads and unbalancing their defensive shape.

On multiple occasions, he combined deep passing with overlapping sprints, offering himself as an option again after releasing the ball - a hallmark of modern, possession-based systems. This dual-threat - able to progress and penetrate forces the opposition to defend deeper and more compactly, reducing their threat on the counterattack.

Belamari’s and Moufid’s performances signal a departure from viewing full-backs as simply reactive defenders. They are now proactive contributors, stretching the opposition vertically and horizontally from the very first phase.

South Africa: Controlled Aggression from the Flanks

South Africa’s right-back, Jooste, has been another revelation in this tournament. His role is clear: push high, create width, and offer direct support to the attack. But beyond mere positioning, Jooste brings the end product.

His assist against Algeria - a classic overlapping run followed by a precise cutback - was emblematic of South Africa’s wide-based attacking strategy.

South Africa often push both full-backs high

What stands out is the timing of Jooste’s movements. He doesn’t just hug the touchline; he times his runs to arrive in key zones unmarked. This positional awareness ensures that South Africa can switch play quickly and exploit weak-side spaces with minimal buildup time.

While South Africa often pushes both full-backs high, it’s the right side where most of their width and creativity originates. This asymmetrical setup gives them both width and defensive balance, allowing them to commit numbers forward without being overly vulnerable in transition.

Senegal and Kenya: Full-Backs Adding Verticality and Control

Senegal’s Samb Layouse provides a different flavour to the full-back evolution. Operating primarily from the left, he frequently joins attacks not just as a crosser but as a direct threat. His willingness to make late runs into the box, combined with effective combinations on the wing, gives Senegal an unpredictable edge in the final third.

Against Congo, Layouse’s attacking instincts paid off. He drifted into the left half-space untracked and slotted home a goal, showcasing how full-backs at CHAN 2024 are not just facilitators but finishers too.

His role is a perfect example of how African teams are using full-backs to stretch defences horizontally and penetrate vertically.

For Kenya, Daniel Sakari has assumed a different but equally vital role. Against DR Congo and Morocco, Sakari often received the ball near the halfway line and initiated play from there. His composure under pressure and ability to link with midfielders in tight areas helped Kenya bypass the press and advance the ball with purpose. By frequently pushing high, he also acted as a buffer against counterattacks - denying the opposition space to exploit transitions.

Sakari’s calmness and intelligence in possession are particularly important in matches where Kenya is outmatched physically or technically. His presence helped maintain territorial pressure and kept opponents pinned back in their half.

A Broader Shift in Tactical Philosophy

The trend across CHAN 2024 is clear: full-backs are no longer merely defensive insurance or late-phase contributors. They are primary actors in the buildup, facilitators of vertical progression, and often decisive figures in the final third.

This shift reflects a broader philosophical evolution in African football. As teams become more tactically complex, the demand for multi-dimensional full-backs has grown.

The position now requires technical quality, spatial awareness, and the courage to make aggressive runs early - not just when the ball reaches the final third.

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Whether it’s Morocco’s and Angola’s incisive combinations with wide-based possession, South Africa’s asymmetry, or Senegal’s direct overlaps, the full-backs of CHAN 2024 are writing a new chapter in tactical innovation. They are not just support players; they are the heartbeat of the attack.

At CHAN 2024, full-backs have taken center stage - not just as defenders or wide runners, but as central figures in the orchestration of attacks. Through their early involvement in build-up, intelligent positioning, and aggressive intent, these players are reshaping how we think about the role.

As African football continues to evolve tactically, this full-back revolution may well become one of its defining characteristics - marrying athleticism with technical nuance and tactical intelligence. Mastering the art of the advanced initiator.