Nigeria’s campaign at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) ended in disappointment on Tuesday as Sudan inflicted a crushing 4-0 defeat in their second Group D match in Zanzibar.
Already under pressure after a narrow 1-0 loss to Senegal in their opener, Eric Chelle’s side were outclassed by a Sudanese team that combined physical dominance with sharp attacking play. The result leaves Nigeria bottom of the group, with no points and a minus-five goal difference, confirming their early exit from the tournament.
The match began disastrously for Nigeria. Sudan pressed high from the outset, forcing defensive errors, and took the lead in the 25th minute in bizarre circumstances. Abdel Raouf Yagoub hit the post from close range, and in attempting to clear the rebound, Leonard Ngenge inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.
Just before half-time, things worsened when Ngenge was penalised for handball inside the box. Walieldin Khdir stepped up and converted the penalty into the top corner to double Sudan’s advantage. Nigeria’s best chance of the half came in stoppage time, but Sikiru Alimi headed wide from close range.
Hopes of a second-half comeback were dashed within minutes of the restart. Yagoub, a constant menace, struck twice in the space of seven minutes. In the 55th minute, he finished coolly into the bottom corner from a Musa Hussien cutback, before smashing home his second with a right-footed effort after being left unmarked in the box.
From there, Sudan controlled proceedings with authority. Nigeria pushed forward sporadically, with Raymond Tochukwu hitting the post late on, but goalkeeper Mohamed Abooja remained untroubled. Chelle’s substitutions failed to change the momentum as Sudan’s disciplined defence held firm.
The win takes Sudan to four points from two games, putting them on the brink of the knockout stages after an opening draw against Congo. For Nigeria, the early elimination is a bitter blow, marking their worst CHAN performance since the tournament’s inception.
For Sudan, it was a memorable night in Zanzibar; for Nigeria, it was an evening of costly errors and missed opportunities.
