The 2024 African Nations Championship is currently in progress, with Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda serving as joint hosts.
Nigeria, proudly defending its local-player legacy, finds itself in a challenging Group D alongside Senegal, Congo, and Sudan after the opening round of matches.
Senegal claimed a narrow 1-0 victory against Nigeria, while Congo and Sudan played to a 1-1 draw.
This leaves Senegal at the top of the group with three points, Congo and Sudan tied on one point each, and Nigeria trailing with no points.
The upcoming Nigeria versus Sudan fixture at Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium is now pivotal.
A win for Nigeria would earn them three points, drawing them level with Senegal and placing them in a strong position to advance to the quarter-finals.
Conversely, a draw or loss would severely jeopardize Nigeria’s chances. For Sudan, a victory would secure their progression with four points, while even a draw would keep their hopes alive heading into the final matchday.
Looking back, Nigeria and Sudan have met only once in CHAN history, during the 2018 semi-finals in Morocco.
On January 31, 2018, Gabriel Okechukwu’s 16th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win for Nigeria at the Stade de Marrakech.
That win propelled Nigeria to the final, where they eventually lost to Morocco, while Sudan finished in third place.
Aside from that 2018 encounter, the two teams had never faced off in the CHAN finals before.
Tactically, Nigeria under coach Éric Chelle has embraced a disciplined, team-oriented approach. The Home Eagles have been drilled to play with structure, collective resolve, and a strong desire to change Nigeria’s CHAN narrative.
Chelle’s focus on unity and determination aims to revive the country’s fortunes in this prestigious tournament.