Nigeria’s coach, Eric Chelle, was shell-shocked after Tuesday’s 4-0 demolition of his team by the rampaging Sudanese side.

The evening at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, the Tanzanian archipelago, was a test of patience and pride for the coach who had recorded a second defeat in a row and would have an agonising one-week wait for a dead rubber match with Congo at the same venue.

“This is the worst game I’ve overseen”, he remarked after the nightmarish encounter.

Nigeria’s campaign was already on the ropes after player departures had weakened the squad, and the heavy defeat left them with only one thing to fight for — honour.

“We have lost all ambition. The CHAN is over for us. We have a third match to play for our honour and respect. But I am disappointed by this match. It is the worst game I’ve overseen from the dugout as a coach.”

Looking ahead to their final game against Congo, Chelle warned: “If we play this way against Congo, it wouldn’t be just four. We have to clear our minds and mentally get ready for Congo.”

The coach pointed to the loss of key domestic players — nearly eight who had moved abroad — as a turning point.

“Though some important players left our preparations camp, these were the best players in our league. We can’t play a game like that and lose in the manner we did. We need to be more focused.”

The mistakes against Sudan were costly. “The players focused in the first 20 minutes. Our goal was ruled out, and afterwards, we made a lot of mistakes… four mistakes, four goals.

“Our training session before the game went well. We analysed Sudan’s team. We prepared well but were not ready for as many mistakes.”

Sudan now eyes a top-of-the-table showdown with Senegal, while Nigeria seek redemption in their last match.

For one team, it’s about making a statement in the knockout stage. For the other, it’s about salvaging pride.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

It wasn’t the expected, but it was the reality. The Super Eagles are out of contention in the African Nations Championship after crumbling miserably 4-0 to Sudan on Tuesday night.

It is the most humiliating defeat so far, as the group stage of the tournament is coming to a close.

Yet it never looked as if a big defeat was in the offing as the game kicked off, and Nigeria was dictating the pace.

The Super Eagles even thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute when, in transition from defence into attack, Anthony Ijoma got the ball floated to him just by the half line.

He broke loose and found the net. But his effort was chalked off by the VAR for a marginal offside.

In a twist of fate, barely a minute later, Nigerian defender, Leonard Ngenge, in an attempt to deflect with a header a shot by Sudan’s Abdel Yagoub ended up putting the ball into the Nigerian net for an own goal for Sudan.

Poor Ngenge! As the first half was wearing out, the ball landed on his outstretched hand to give away a penalty kick, which Walieldin Khdir converted for Sudan’s second goal.

Ten minutes into the second half, the flaming Sudanese were already three goals up as Abdel Yagoub, with a left foot, scored the first of his two goals of the day.

They wrapped up their big win with the fourth goal in the 62nd minute to take the lead of the Group.

Nigeria’s last group match against Congo is merely to fulfil the fixtures.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H

Defending champions Senegal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against a determined Congo side in their second Group D fixture at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 in Zanzibar.

Dechan Moussavou’s early strike gave Congo a surprise lead, but Joseph Layousse salvaged a point for the Teranga Lions with a second-half equaliser at the Amaan Stadium.

The result leaves Senegal on four points from two matches, with Congo on two, ahead of tonight’s other group clash between Nigeria and Sudan.

Senegal head coach Souleymane Diallo had warned pre-match of a “trap” game, and Congo wasted no time in springing it.

In the 19th minute, Charles Atipo delivered a teasing cross from the right that Moussavou met with a clinical right-footed finish high into the net from close range.

The champions, who had beaten Nigeria 1-0 in their opening match, were rattled by Congo’s physical approach and quick transitions.

Senegal struggled to break through a compact 4-2-3-1 structure, with Venold Dzaba and Gosim Elenga disrupting midfield rhythm.

The first half became increasingly scrappy, punctuated by frequent fouls and stoppages for treatment, breaking up the flow of the game.

Congo goalkeeper Ulrich Samba was well protected, with only Mbaye Yaya Ly’s angled shot in added time coming close to troubling him.

Diallo turns to bench for response

Diallo made changes at the break, introducing Vieux Cissé to add creativity, but Congo continued to threaten on the counter.

Marc Diouf, in Senegal’s goal, was called into action to save Elie Andzouono’s curling shot from outside the box in the 69th minute.

Senegal, however, began to build momentum. Ousseynou Seck’s delivery from set-pieces became a weapon, forcing Congo to defend deeper.

Christian Gomis and Libasse Guèye both went close, with Samba producing sharp saves to preserve Congo’s advantage.

The breakthrough came in the 82nd minute when Seck’s corner caused chaos in the box and Layousse pounced, rifling a right-footed effort into the bottom corner.

The equaliser lifted Senegal, and moments later Seyni Ndiaye missed a close-range header that could have completed the turnaround.

The closing minutes were tense, with both sides sensing an opportunity to snatch victory. Brudet Okana fired over for Congo, while Ababacar Sarr’s late free-kick delivery caused panic but found no final touch.

A flurry of stoppages and yellow cards in added time underlined the intensity of the contest, with neither team able to carve out a decisive chance.

The draw keeps Senegal in a strong position, though Diallo will rue the missed opportunity to secure quarter-final qualification with a game to spare.

Congo, meanwhile, have shown they can trouble the group’s favourites and will take confidence into their remaining fixtures.

Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H