CHAN
Like Niger, their northern neighbours in Group C, will Nigeria in Group D exit CHAN without a Goal?
By KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles face Congo on Tuesday night in their final Group D clash of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), with pride rather than qualification at stake.
Already eliminated after back-to-back defeats to Senegal and Sudan, Eric Sekou Chelle’s side will be desperate to at least avoid the embarrassment of exiting the tournament without scoring a single goal.
The Super Eagles have conceded five goals without reply in two matches, and Chelle admits the campaign has been a bruising one.
“We want to end the competition with a victory,” Chelle told reporters. “We haven’t scored yet, and this game is our chance to put things right. Of course, I take responsibility as a coach, but now it’s about lifting morale. We must return home with something positive.”
Nigeria’s preparations were disrupted after eight key players from the qualifying campaign departed for overseas clubs, forcing Chelle to rebuild much of his squad on short notice.
With the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) resuming this weekend and continental competitions around the corner, many players are already looking forward to rejoining their clubs.
Nine Remo Stars players and three from Rivers United are expected back for CAF Champions League duty, while Abia Warriors’ Ijeoma Anthony and Kwara United’s Nurudeen Badmus and Bankole Afeez will feature in the Confederation Cup.
While Nigeria’s interest in the tournament has ended, Congo still has everything to play for. A victory over the Super Eagles, combined with a favourable result from the Sudan–Senegal match, could see them through to the quarterfinals.
“There is no alternative to victory,” Congo coach Barthelemy Ngatsono told CAFonline, underlining the must-win nature of the fixture.
“We respect Nigeria, but they are like a wounded lion. They will play with pride, so we must be sharper and stay focused.”
Congo’s own struggles in front of goal—just one strike in two games—remain a concern, but forward Gosim Duvan Elenga is confident his team can rise to the occasion. “We enter this match with the same determination as before. We are ready,” he said.
For Nigeria, Tuesday night offers one last chance to restore a measure of dignity. For Congo, it could be the gateway to the knockout rounds.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Sudan and Senegal both advanced to the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 after playing out a tense goalless draw at Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night.
The result ensured Sudan topped Group D on goal difference, with holders Senegal progressing in second place.
At the same time, Nigeria defeated Congo 2-0 in Dar es Salaam, but the Super Eagles’ late push was not enough to dislodge the two unbeaten sides.
It was billed as the decisive match of Group D, and it lived up to the occasion, even without goals.
Sudan, rejuvenated under Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, came into the fixture brimming with belief after their 4-0 dismantling of Nigeria.
Senegal, the reigning champions, knew only defeat could eliminate them but were equally determined to secure top spot.
Both sides traded chances in a cagey first half. Senegal’s Pape Badji twice came close — first dragging a shot wide from the edge of the six-yard box before seeing another effort fly off target.
At the other end, Sudan tested goalkeeper Marc Diouf through Abdel Raouf Yagoub, whose strike from distance was well gathered.
The drama reached boiling point in stoppage time of the first half when Sudan appealed for a penalty, only for VAR to rule no infringement, to the relief of Souleymane Diallo’s Senegalese side.
The second half mirrored the first — fast, physical, and fiercely contested.
Sudan’s Musa Hussien had the best opening for the Cranes, shooting over from close range, while Mohamed Tia Asad also missed narrowly after coming off the bench.
Senegal, meanwhile, looked to Libasse Guèye for inspiration, but Sudan’s disciplined backline repelled the danger.
The champions’ frustrations boiled over when Mbaye Yaya Ly was shown a second yellow card deep into stoppage time, leaving Senegal to finish with ten men.
Despite their numerical advantage, Sudan had little time to capitalise, and the game ended with honours even.
The stalemate meant both teams finished level on five points, but Sudan’s superior goal difference (+4 compared to Senegal’s +1) secured them first place.
In Dar es Salaam, Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Congo lifted them to third with three points, while Congo bowed out bottom with two.
For Nigeria, the result was bittersweet. They delivered their best display of the tournament, but their earlier defeats left them short of qualification.
Kwesi Appiah’s tenure has transformed Sudan into one of the competition’s most disciplined and adventurous sides.
The Ghanaian coach promised his team would attack, and though they did not score, Sudan again showed the organisation and resilience that have kept them unbeaten for almost a year.
Captain Fares Abdullah and his side celebrated with their fans at full time, knowing they had made history by reaching the CHAN knockout stages in style.
The draw sets up a tantalising last-eight line-up. Sudan will remain in Zanzibar to face Algeria, while Senegal travel to Kampala to meet hosts Uganda, in what promises to be a fiery clash in front of a packed Mandela National Stadium.
With all three co-hosts — Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — already through, and defending champions Senegal still in the mix, the quarter-finals are shaping up to be a festival of football with huge crowds expected.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) has delivered an unprecedented moment for East African football, as all three co-hosts—Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda—have advanced to the quarter-finals.
It is the first time in a CAF competition that three co-host nations have simultaneously reached the knockout stage, underlining the tournament’s theme of Pamoja—the Swahili word for “together.”
Kenya, debuting at CHAN, stunned the continent by topping Group A with 10 points. A packed Kasarani Stadium roared as Ryan Ogam’s 75th-minute winner against Zambia sealed a 1-0 victory and guaranteed their place above 2020 champions Morocco.
The Harambee Stars will remain in Nairobi to face Madagascar in Friday’s quarter-final, in what is already billed as a blockbuster tie.
Tanzania’s Taifa Stars were equally dominant in Group B, finishing with 10 points after winning three matches and drawing one.
Their attacking style and solid organisation won admiration, while the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium drew some of the competition’s largest crowds.
Tanzania will meet Morocco in Dar es Salaam on Friday night in another high-stakes clash.
For Uganda, the breakthrough was historic. After six failed attempts, the Cranes finally escaped the group stage, topping Group C in dramatic fashion.
In a pulsating 3-3 draw with South Africa, Jude Ssemugabi struck early, only for the visitors to score three times. But Uganda fought back, with Rogers Torach converting a stoppage-time penalty to secure the point that carried them into the quarter-finals.
They will host their last-eight tie in Kampala on Saturday night against the Group D runners-up.
This year’s CHAN is already unique as the first CAF tournament to be co-hosted by three countries. The decision to share matches across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda has been rewarded with record attendances, vibrant atmospheres and now a collective footballing triumph.
With each co-host nation set to play its quarter-final match at home, East Africa is braced for another weekend of festival-like crowds, as the dream run of the hosts continues.
Quarter-Final Fixtures
Friday, 22 August 2025
- 17:00 – Kenya v Madagascar (Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi)
- 20:00 – Tanzania v Morocco (Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam)
Saturday, 23 August 2025
- 17:00 – Winners Group D v Algeria (Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar)
- 20:00 – Uganda v Runners-up Group D (Mandela National Stadium, Kampala)
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Uganda sealed a historic place in the quarter-finals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 after a dramatic 3-3 draw with South Africa at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Monday night.
In front of 34,194 ecstatic fans, the Cranes rode a rollercoaster of emotions before clinching the point that carried them through as Group C winners for the first time in their CHAN history.
South Africa, meanwhile, were left heartbroken as their campaign ended in the group stage.
Uganda Strike First
The Cranes needed only a draw to advance and looked comfortable when Jude Ssemugabi opened the scoring in the 31st minute, finishing off Patrick Kakande’s quick counter-attack. They carried the 1-0 lead into half-time, appearing firmly in control.
Bafana Bafana’s Fightback
South Africa came out revitalised after the break and turned the game on its head. Ramahlwe Mphahlele equalised in the 52nd minute, his close-range effort confirmed after a VAR review.
Just six minutes later, Thabiso Kutumela made it 2-1 with a sharp strike from a tight angle.
The visitors’ dominance grew, and in the 83rd minute, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo unleashed a thunderbolt from distance to extend the lead to 3-1, silencing the home crowd and leaving Uganda staring at elimination.
The Cranes’ Dramatic Response
But the Cranes refused to surrender. Barely two minutes later, Travis Mutyaba pulled one back with a composed finish inside the box, sparking renewed belief.
Then, in stoppage time, Rogers Torach kept his nerve to slot home a penalty after a handball decision, completing a remarkable comeback.
The final whistle was met with jubilant scenes across the Mandela National Stadium, as players and fans alike celebrated Uganda’s first-ever progression beyond the group stage of CHAN.
Group C Decided
Elsewhere, Algeria’s goalless draw with Niger meant Uganda finished top of Group C with five points, while South Africa’s four-point tally was not enough to keep them alive.
Uganda will now host their quarter-final clash in Kampala against the runners-up of Group D, continuing their fairytale run in front of passionate home support.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- US OPEN6 days ago
Venus Williams gets a US Open wild card at age 45 and will be the oldest in singles since 1981
- CAF Confederation Cup1 week ago
Full Fixtures of CAF Confederation Cup 2025/26 Preliminary Round Draw Deliver Mouthwatering Clashes
- OBITUARY1 week ago
Tragedy on the ring as two boxers die from Brain Injuries
- MEDIA1 week ago
Fashola Calls for Sports-Driven Economic Model to Tackle Youth Unemployment
- CAF Champions League1 week ago
Downloadable full fixtures of CAF Champions League 2025/26 available as Draw serves up high-stakes clashes
- CHAN1 week ago
Like a hurricane, Sudan blow Super Eagles B into pieces!
- OBITUARY1 week ago
On the eve of Okwaraji’s death anniversary, Shooting Stars Assistant Coach Dies During Training in Ibadan
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Fashola Urges Overhaul of Nigeria’s Football and Sports Business Model