Nigeria’s campaign at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) came to an abrupt and disappointing end on Tuesday, following a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Sudan at the Amaan Stadium. This heavy loss, combined with a 1-0 defeat in their opening match against Senegal, means the Super Eagles are now mathematically eliminated from the tournament with one game left to play.
Despite a spirited start, Eric Chelle’s side struggled to convert early pressure into goals, with Anthony Ijoma having a goal disallowed for offside by VAR in the 22nd minute. Just three minutes later, Sudan’s fortunes turned with a stroke of luck. A shot from Yagoub deflected off Nigeria’s Leonard Ngenge and into the net, giving the Falcons of Jediane a 1-0 lead.
Nigeria’s defensive woes deepened just before halftime when Ngenge was penalized for a handball in the box. Sudan’s captain, Walieldin Khdir, stepped up and expertly converted the resulting penalty to double his team’s lead.
Hoping to ignite a comeback, coach Chelle made a triple substitution at the break, bringing on Steven Manyo, Jabbar Malik, and Vincent Temitope. However, the changes failed to stem the tide. Sudan’s Abdel Raouf scored his first goal of the night in the 55th minute with a powerful left-footed strike, and then completed his brace seven minutes later to cap a dominant display.
The result leaves Nigeria at the bottom of Group D with zero points, while Sudan now sit at the top of the table. The Sudanese side will face defending champions Senegal in their final group match, a game that will decide which of the two nations progresses to the next round. For Nigeria, the final match against Congo is now a contest for pride, and the team returns home facing difficult questions about its performance and preparation at the tournament.
