CHAN
CHAN 2024: Nigeria’s Group Opponents Senegal Struggle in East African Friendlies
As Nigeria gears up for their opening match at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), their Group D opponents, defending champions Senegal, are enduring a worrying run of form in their East African trial matches.
The Teranga Lions have suffered back-to-back defeats in friendly games played in Tanzania, raising concerns over their title defence campaign under Coach Souleymane Diallo.
On Sunday, Senegal lost 2-1 to co-hosts Tanzania in a warm-up encounter that exposed defensive frailties. Despite taking an early lead through Mapathe Mbodji in the 8th minute, the West Africans failed to maintain control.
The Tanzanians struck back in the second half, with Abdul Suleiman converting a penalty in the 53rd minute following a foul by Seny Mbaye Ndiaye.
Just three minutes later, Ibrahim Hamad scored the winning goal, beating Senegal goalkeeper Marc Philippe Arouna Diouf.
Earlier on Thursday, Senegal fell to Uganda by the same 2-1 margin in another pre-tournament friendly. Uganda, led by Coach Morley Byekwaso, bounced back from a previous 1-0 defeat to Tanzania with a spirited performance at Karatu’s Black Rhino Sports Centre in Arusha.
“I’m happy with the hunger my players showed on the pitch,” Byekwaso was quoted as saying by Tanzania’s Daily News.
“We managed to win by pushing more in attack, but there’s still work to do, especially in closing down spaces. That’s something we’ll focus on before CHAN kicks off.”
Goals from defender Arnold Odong and substitute Patrick Jonah Kakande gave Uganda a comfortable two-goal cushion before Senegal’s Moctar Serigne Koité pulled one back late in the match. Despite a tense finale, the Cranes held on for a morale-boosting win.
The two defeats leave Senegal with plenty to ponder ahead of their CHAN opener against Nigeria.
For the Super Eagles, currently fine-tuning their own preparations, the Teranga Lions’ poor run may offer a psychological edge, though they would be wise not to underestimate a wounded champion seeking redemption.
Senegal will face Nigeria at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday, 5 August.
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Just as Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team features a strong Remo Stars contingent, Sudan have followed a similar path by heavily leaning on domestic powerhouse Al-Hilal Khartoum for their squad at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Ghanaian tactician Kwesi Appiah, who led Ghana at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, has named a 25-man squad for the tournament, with 13 players coming from Sudanese Premier League champions, Al-Hilal.
The selection underscores Appiah’s strategy to harness club chemistry and domestic form as Sudan prepares to battle in a formidable Group D.
Sudan, who finished third on home soil at CHAN 2011 and also competed in 2018, will face Congo Brazzaville in their opening group game before clashing with Nigeria on August 12 and wrapping up their group campaign against defending champions Senegal.
The Sudanese squad features a blend of experience and form, with contributions also coming from traditional rivals Al-Merriekh Khartoum — including star goalkeeper Ahmed Al-Fateh and midfield anchor Mohamed Al-Rasheed — as well as players from Hay Al-Wadi Nyala and Al-Amal Atbara.
Appiah’s rebuilding project comes amid Sudan’s domestic challenges and civil unrest, but the coach is confident that his locally-based squad can punch above their weight and possibly emulate or surpass their 2011 feat.
Sudan are scheduled to commence their final preparation camp in Zanzibar from July 30, ahead of the tournament’s kickoff on August 2.
Sudan’s Full Squad for CHAN 2024
Goalkeepers:
- Ahmed Al-Fateh (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Mohamed Al-Nour Adam (Al-Zamala Umm Ruwaba)
- Mohamed Madani (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
Defenders:
- Ramadan Ajeeb Sharif (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Awad Zaid Gadain (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Musab Mohamed Makin (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Ahmed Abdelmomen Ahmed (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Mohamed Ahmed Saeed (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Altayeb Abdelrazek (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Mazen Bashir Siembo (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Farees Abdullah Mamoun (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
Midfielders:
- Mohamed Al-Rasheed Mahmoud (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Salah Al-Din Adel (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Wali Al-Din Khidr (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Abdelrazek Omar (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Yasser Muzamil Al-Tayeb (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Ahmed Ismat (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Al-Musbah Faisal (Al-Amal Atbara)
Forwards:
- Yasser Awad Bushara (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Ali Abdallah Hamad Al-Neel (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Mohamed Abdulrahman Yousif (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Mubarak Abdallah (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Mousa Hussein Mousa (Al-Hilal Khartoum)
- Mohamed Tia Aboudikin (Al-Merriekh Khartoum)
- Mazen Fad Al-Bahli (Hay Al-Wadi Nyala)
With Nigeria also relying heavily on players from domestic runners-up Remo Stars, the Group D clash between the Super Eagles B and Sudan’s Falcons of Jediane on August 12 promises to be a fascinating battle of club-driven national teams.
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The home-based Super Eagles, also known as Super Eagles B, will have their first training session in Zanzibar on Saturday as preparations begin in earnest for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The Nigerian contingent arrived on the chain of islands, officially known as an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, where all their Group Stage matches will be played.
The team is lodged at the Blue Ocean Hotel and Resort, a seaside facility providing an ideal setting for rest and focus.
Inside the Ocean Blue Hotel & resort
Led by head coach Eric Chelle, with assistants Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu, the team held a technical and video analysis meeting earlier on Saturday to review strategies and opponents ahead of their campaign.
The first field session is scheduled to take place at the Maidara Training Centre, marking the start of on-ground preparations for the continental tournament reserved for players plying their trade in domestic leagues.
Nigeria, a traditional powerhouse in African football, will be hoping to make a strong impression in this year’s CHAN tournament and improve on their past performances, which include a runners-up finish in 2018.
More updates on the team’s training sessions and fixtures are expected in the coming days.
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Nigeria’s team for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), popularly known as the Super Eagles B, has arrived in Zanzibar, Tanzania, for the final phase of their preparations ahead of the continental tournament.
The squad departed Nigeria on Thursday, July 25, from their training base in Ikenne, flying via Lagos with Ethiopian Airlines, and touched down in Zanzibar later that day.
The team will be based in Zanzibar from July 25 to 31, where they will intensify their training programme and play two friendly matches against the Zanzibar national team on July 28 and July 31.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group D of the CHAN tournament, alongside Senegal, Sudan, and Congo. The Super Eagles B will begin their campaign with a tough opener against defending champions Senegal on Tuesday, August 5.
The CHAN tournament, which is exclusively for players active in domestic leagues, provides a crucial platform for home-based talent to showcase their skills on the continental stage. The Super Eagles B are aiming to improve on their runner-up finish at the 2018 edition.
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