On a Tuesday night that Nigerian football will want to forget quickly, the home-based Super Eagles saw their African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 dreams obliterated.
Sudan, under the shrewd guidance of Kwesi Appiah, ripped through Eric Chelle’s side 4–0; a statement win that not only cemented their status as serious contenders but also ended Nigeria’s hopes of lifting the CHAN trophy for the first time since its inception in 2009.
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It was an evening where Appiah’s tactical clarity met Chelle’s deepest frustration, resulting in the heaviest defeat of Chelle’s tenure.
Appiah’s tactical masterstroke
Kwesi Appiah, the former Ghana boss, admitted that even he hadn’t anticipated the scale of the victory.
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“I was surprised with the performance of some of my players. If you noticed, my changes came deep into the second half because everyone was playing really well,” he said.
The first substitution, Mubarak Abdallah for Salah Adel, only came in the 79th minute, a sign of Sudan’s dominance.
“We knew it was going to be tough, especially the first 20 minutes. Our tactical play was to absorb pressure and hit them on the counter,” Appiah explained. “I wasn’t expecting the scoreline, but I knew if we play our best, we could defeat Nigeria.”
Respect for the opponents
Despite the demolition, Appiah refused to gloat, instead praising Chelle and his players.
“I think the home-based Super Eagles aren’t that bad. On the whole, tactically, they played well. The coach only needs to do some polishing with the attack. The first game against Senegal wasn’t that bad; in the second game, they had stints of possession, but our approach helped us.”
Chelle’s worst night in charge
For Eric Chelle, the night was more than a defeat; it was a punch to his project. His squad had already been weakened by the departure of almost eight key domestic players abroad before the tournament, and the rout left only pride to play for.
“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 coach.”
Looking ahead to their last Group B clash with Congo, Chelle’s warning was blunt:
“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 missing core
The coach pointed to the exodus of top NPFL talent as a decisive blow to Nigeria’s preparations.
“Though some important players left our preparation 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.”
His frustration was sharpened by how the match unfolded.
“The players focused in the first 20 minutes. Our goal was ruled out, and afterwards, we made a lot of mistakes… 4 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.”
READ ALSO: CHAN 2024: Nigeria crash out after humiliating 4-0 loss to Sudan
Contrasting paths ahead
Sudan now prepare for a top-of-the-table showdown with Senegal, a match that could decide who enters the knockout stage as Group B leaders.
Nigeria, meanwhile, are left to fight for dignity against Congo, knowing that their tournament is already over.
For Appiah’s Sudan, the mission is clear: send another warning to the rest of Africa.
For Chelle’s Nigeria, the task is simpler but no less important: restore pride in the shirt.
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