It was a night to forget for Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles as their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign came to a crashing halt with a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Sudan at Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, August 12.
The evening had begun with a spark of optimism. Barely minutes into the game, Nigeria thought they had taken the lead, only for celebrations to be cut short by an offside call. That false dawn set the stage for what would become a nightmare performance.
Disaster struck in the 25th minute when defender Lurwanu Ngenge, under little pressure, turned the ball into his own net. Things went from bad to worse just before the break as Ngenge was again in the spotlight, conceding a penalty that Sudan’s Walieldin Khidir coolly dispatched to double their advantage.
Coach Éric Chelle’s halftime changes offered no rescue. Instead, Sudan tightened their grip on the match. Abdel Raouf Yagoub struck twice in the second half, wrapping up a ruthless and disciplined display from Kwesi Appiah’s side.
For Nigeria, the numbers paint a grim picture — bottom of Group D, no goals scored, no points from two matches, and their heaviest CHAN loss since the 4-0 mauling by Morocco in the 2018 final. Their earlier 1-0 defeat to Senegal had already left them on shaky ground, but this result sealed their fate with a game to spare.
Sudan, meanwhile, sit top of the group on goal difference with four points after Senegal’s earlier draw, and now stand on the brink of the quarter-finals. A point in their final match against Senegal could be enough to send them through, depending on Congo’s result.
Nigeria will close their campaign against Congo a match that carries no qualification hopes, only the chance to salvage a sliver of pride. But beyond the final whistle, the inquest will begin. Questions will be asked about the team’s preparation, selection, and execution — and the answers may shape the future of the home-based national side.
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