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Sudan Eliminate Nigeria’s Home-Based Super Eagles From CHAN With 4-0 Win.
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Defensive mistakes and poor finishing cost the Super Eagles.
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Sudan move close to knockout stage with four points in Group D
Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles have crashed out of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Sudan in their second Group D match on Tuesday in Zanzibar.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that following a 1-0 loss to Senegal in their opening game, Eric Chelle’s men entered the encounter needing a win to keep their hopes alive. However, Sudan dominated from start to finish, combining physicality with sharp attacking play to hand Nigeria one of their heaviest defeats in the competition’s history.
The match took a disastrous turn in the 25th minute when defender Leonard Ngenge, under pressure, inadvertently scored an own goal after Abdel Raouf Yagoub had hit the post. Minutes before halftime, Ngenge handled the ball inside the box, conceding a penalty. Walieldin Khdir converted with a powerful strike into the top corner to double Sudan’s lead.
Nigeria came close to reducing the deficit in first-half stoppage time, but Sikiru Alimi headed narrowly wide from close range.
In the second half, Sudan’s Yagoub sealed the victory with a quick brace in the 55th and 62nd minutes first with a composed left-footed finish into the bottom corner, then with a fierce right-footed shot high into the net.
Nigeria’s Raymond Tochukwu hit the post late on, but Sudan’s goalkeeper Mohamed Abooja ensured his side kept a clean sheet.
Sudan now sit on four points from two matches and are close to booking a place in the knockout stages. For Nigeria, the defeat leaves them bottom of the group with zero points and a minus-five goal difference, ending their campaign prematurely.
