Nigeria Sets Unwanted Record After 4:0 Defeat to Sudan in CHAN, Crashes Out in Shame
- Nigeria have been eliminated from the 2024 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Sudan
- The Super Eagles B team set an unwanted record after two successive defeats in their two games in the continental event
- The Nigerian national football team, led by coach Eric Chelle, will face Congo in their last Group D game on August 19
Nigeria’s home-based football team has been sent packing from the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after a humiliating 4-0 loss to Sudan.
The result not only confirmed the Super Eagles' early elimination from the tournament but also etched their name in the record books for the wrong reasons.
Source: Twitter
Nigeria, led by Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, equalled their heaviest-ever CHAN defeat, the 4-0 thrashing by Morocco in the 2018 final, according to All Nigeria Soccer.
How CHAN loss unfolded for Super Eagles
Coming into the match under pressure after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Senegal in their first match of the tournament, the home-based national team needed a win to keep Nigeria’s hopes alive.
For the opening 20 minutes, they enjoyed more than 60% of the possession and even thought that they had taken the lead when Anthony Ijoma finished neatly in the 22nd minute.
However, as CAF reported, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) quickly crushed the Super Eagles' joy, ruling the goal out for offside.
CHAN: Nigeria suffer devastating collapse vs Sudan
Just minutes after their disallowed goal, Nigeria’s night began to unravel, with their confidence appearing to wane.
Sudan’s Abdel Yagoub rattled the crossbar, and the rebound cruelly bounced in off defender Leonard Ngenge for an own goal.
As the team tried to recover, disaster struck again in first-half stoppage time, as Ngenge handled the ball inside the box, gifting Sudan a penalty which Walieldin Khidir calmly converted to make it 2-0.
Source: Twitter
Nigeria came out for the second half desperate to turn things around, but struggled to create chances.
After registering only one shot on target in the defeat to Senegal, they also failed to register a single shot on target in the entire match.
To their credit, Sudan exploited the defensive lapses, with Abdel Raouf scoring twice in quick succession: a close-range finish in the 55th minute and a brilliant volley off the crossbar six minutes later, sealing the 4-0 win.
An embarrassing CHAN 2024 exit for Nigeria
The loss means Nigeria have now conceded five goals and scored none in their first two group matches, ensuring they will not progress beyond the group stage, according to Complete Sports.
Their final Group D clash against the Republic of Congo has been reduced to a dead rubber, though it offers a small window to salvage some pride from what has been a tournament to forget.
For a team with Nigeria’s footballing pedigree, this CHAN campaign will go down as one of the most disappointing in history, being the first eliminated and the only team to concede five goals without scoring.
The unwanted record of their joint-heaviest defeat at the tournament has only served to underline the gap between expectation and reality.
Meanwhile, Sudan currently tops their group, leading Senegal on points difference.
Both teams would fancy their chances of joining co-hosts Tanzania, who became the first team to book a quarter-final place after defeating Madagascar 2-1, as also reported by CAF.
Reactions after Sudan defeats Nigeria at CHAN
Earlier, Legit.ng also reported that Super Eagles fans have blasted the performance of the team at the ongoing 2024 Africa Cup of Nations Championship.
Some have slammed coach Chelle failing to manage the home-based players, while others called for the immediate resignation of the former Mali boss.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
