The home-based Super Eagles will be gunning for a historic final ticket at the African Nations Championships, CHAN, as they take on Sudan in the second semi-final at the ongoing tournament in Morocco.
Nigeria beat Angola to make it to the semi-final while Sudan dumped out Zambia to make this stage of the tournament.
Aside from 2014 when the late Stephen Keshi led Nigeria to the semifinal, this is the only time Nigeria is making it this far in CHAN.
In 2014, the Eagles were narrowly beaten by arch-rivals Ghana before battling to win bronze in the third-place match.
Many will hope history will be made tonight as Nigeria will hope to make the final for the very first time.
Aside Sudan being a formidable side, there are injury problems for the Super Eagles who nonetheless remain undaunted in the task ahead.
Stay with PREMIUM TIMES for Live Updates of Nigeria vs Sudan match in Marrakech tonight.
Kick off is 8.30 p.m.
We are set for the semifinal game between Nigeria and Sudan… The National anthems of both teams now taken
Sudan makes no change to the team that won Zambia in the quarter-final while Nigeria forced to make some changes due to injury
Game underway.. Super Eagles with the opening pass
Sudan and Nigeria have met 13 previous times with Nigeria winning seven times and Sudan picking two victories
Okpotu with a half chance but marked off by the Sudan defence
Oladapo wins a freekick for Nigeria
Ezenwa makes a timely save as Sudan almost get the opening goal
The goalkeeper is being treated for a slight knock
Sudan have a great record in the CHAN with six wins and four draws in their last 10 games
Not looking for Nigeria as Ezenwa maybe in trouble
Big blow for Nigeria as Ezenwa is being stretched out
Dele Ajiboye is in for injured Ezenwa
This is first game for Ajiboye in CHAN
CHANCE!! Sudan with a chance
GOAL: Gabriel Okechukw with a goal for Nigeria
This is the first time Sudan will be behind in this tournament
Okpotu with a chance to double Nigeria’s lead but he plays the ball straight to the onrushing goalkeeper
Rabiu Ali wins a free kick for Nigeria by the center circle
Gabriel Okechukwu almost with a second goal
30 mins gone Sudan 0-1 Nigeria
Dele Ajiboye with an easy catch from a feeble header by the Sudanese
Rabiu Ali with a wasted effort there as he shoots way off the mark
Sudan’s Naseridin is being warned by the referee after a rough tackle
SAVE!!! Fantastic one by Dele Ajiboye
Five minutes added time
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi gets a yellow card in the dying stages of the first half
Okpotu makes a poor pass from inside the Sudan box
First Half: Sudan 0-1 Nigeria
First Half Analysis | Eagles ride their luck
The Eagles took the kickoff and tried to press the Falcons in their half but the Nigerian team suffered a huge casualty in the sixth minute when some sloppy defending from Stephen Eze got Ikechukwu Ezenwa injured. He did not respond to treatment and had to be stretchered off and replaced by Plateau United’s Dele Ajiboye.
Saifeldin Bakhit should have put Sudan ahead on 15 minutes but he couldn’t sort out his feet on time. Straight away the Eagles went to the side and scored. Gabriel Okechukwu, who got the winner against Angola latched on to a header from Tony Okpotu and rolled the ball past the flailing hands of Akram El Hadi Salim.
In the closing stages of the half, Sudan had three chances to get on even terms but Ajiboye came to the rescue. In the space of a minute, Mohamed Bashir had good chances in the box. First, in the 44th minute, he was foiled by a tackle from Ajiboye and seconds later, Bashir thought he had the equaliser with a downward header but Ajiboye made a miraculous save off his left post.
Coach Salisu Yusuf has to bring order to his midfield as the trio of Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Dayo Ojo, and Rabiu Ali was not able to dictate play as the Sudanese grew more dangerous.
Second Half begins
Quick chance for Nigeria but the Sudan keeper makes a good catch
Another chance but Dayo Ojo’s shot saved by the Sudan keeper
Samawal gets a yellow card for a rough tackle on Nigeria’s Oladapo
Sudan Substitution: Taheer in for Abaagala
Another chance was blown away by Sudan forward Maaz
RED CARD!!! Ifeanyi Ifeanyi sent off as he gets a second yellow card for a two-footed tackle
Nigeria down to 10 men
Sub for Nigeria: Abdullahi Musa comes in for Anthony Okpotu
Sub for Sudan: Maaz pulled out for Waleadeen
Already, host, Morocco have already qualified for the final waiting for the winner of Sudan vs Nigeria clash
Another injury for Super Eagles as Oladapo is strecthed out for treament
Another injury for Super Eagles as Oladapo is stretched out for treatment
Sub for Nigeria: 37-year Rabiu Alli out for Ibrahim Mustapha
Another spectacular save by Dele Ajiboye
Sudan pressing for a late equaliser
RED CARD Sudan’s Bakri sent off after tripping Dayo Ojo
Sudan down to 10 men like Nigeria
Gabriel Okechukwu voted the man of the match
Two minutes added time
Whao!!! Another fantastic save by Ajiboye
Ibrahim Musa gets a yellow card
Full Time: Sudan 0-1 Nigeria
For the first time ever Nigeria are through to the final of the CHAN tournament… CONGRATULATIONS
Nigeria 1 – 0 Sudan | Lucky Eagles ride their luck into first ever CHAN final
The 14th meeting of two countries hoping to make the CHAN final for the first time was decided with a second goal by Gabriel Okechukwu in the first half. The Eagles had to withstand so much pressure and they have substitute goalkeeper, Dele Ajiboye to thank for getting to Sunday’s final.
First Half
The Eagles had Orji Okagbue back in the starting XI but Emeka Atuloma, Sunday Faleye, and Emeka Ogbuh missed out while Sudan was unchanged from the 11 that beat Zambia last Sunday.
The Eagles took the kickoff and tried to press the Falcons in their half but the Eagles suffered a huge casualty in the sixth minute when some sloppy defending from Stephen Eze got Ikechukwu Ezenwa injured. After treatment, he was stretchered off and replaced by Plateau United’s Dele Ajiboye. Saifeldin Bakhit should have put Sudan ahead on 15 minutes but he couldn’t sort out his feet on time. Straight away the Eagles went to the side and scored. Gabriel Okechukwu, who got the winner against Angola latched on to a header from Tony Okpotu and rolled the ball past the flailing hands of Akram El Hadi Salim.
In the closing stages of the half, Sudan had three chances to get on even terms but Ajiboye came to the rescue. In the space of a minute, Mohamed Bashir had good chances in the box. First, in the 44th minute, he was foiled by a tackle from Ajiboye and seconds later, Bashir thought he had the equaliser with a downward header but Ajiboye made a miraculous save off his left post.
Coach Salisu Yusuf has to bring order to his midfield as the trio of Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Dayo Ojo, and Rabiu Ali was not able to dictate play as the Sudanese grew more dangerous.
Second Half
The half was just seconds old when Ali freed Okechukwu but this time his shot was straight at Salim. Okpotu, who had been rudderless then had all the time to shoot wide. Salim made another save off an Ojo shot after good work down the right flank by Ali and Okpotu. Maaz Gismalla then had another chance to level the tie but he wasted too much time before shooting – which Ajiboye cradled. It went sour for the Nigerians in the 58t minute when a dangerous two-footed tackle from Ifeanyi fetched a second yellow card. Merited booking as the Nigerians went doen to 10 men. After this, it was back to the wall defending by the Eagles with Ajiboye making save after save. He made an acrobatic save with his right hand in the 84th minute then a double save in the first minute of added time to finally send the Eagles into a first-ever CHAN final where they will meet Morocco on Sunday.
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