Sudan came out on top in Group D after holding the defending champs, Senegal, to a goalless draw. Both teams are heading to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 after their match at Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night.
Thanks to goal difference, Sudan secured first place, while Senegal grabbed the second spot. Meanwhile, Nigeria beat Congo 2-0 in Dar es Salaam, but their late effort wasn’t enough to push them past the unbeaten duo.
This match had all the drama you’d expect; even without goals, it was high-pressure. Sudan came in with a ton of confidence after a dominating 4-0 win over Nigeria, while Senegal knew they couldn’t afford to lose if they wanted to stay in the tournament.
Both teams had their moments in the first half. Senegal’s Pape Badji almost scored twice—once missing from very close range and another time firing off target. Sudan tested Senegal’s keeper Marc Diouf with a solid shot from Abdel Raouf Yagoub, but he handled it well. Near the end of the first half, Sudan called for a penalty, but after checking VAR, the ref said no—a big relief for Senegal.
The second half was just as intense, with both sides fighting hard. Sudan’s Musa Hussien had a golden chance but shot over from close range, and Mohamed Tia Asad missed narrowly after coming on as a sub. Senegal looked for a breakthrough through Libasse Guèye but couldn’t find a way past Sudan’s strong defense.
Things got even more heated when Senegal’s Mbaye Yaya Ly got a second yellow card deep into stoppage time, leaving his team a man down. Sudan couldn’t take advantage in the limited time left, so the match ended in a stalemate.
In the end, both teams finished with five points, but Sudan’s goal difference (+4 compared to Senegal’s +1) had them at the top of the group. Nigeria’s win over Congo moved them to third with three points, while Congo ended up at the bottom with just two. For Nigeria, it was a tough pill to swallow; they played their best match of the tournament, but earlier losses meant they couldn’t qualify.
Thanks to coach Kwesi Appiah, Sudan has become one of the most disciplined and adventurous teams around. Even without scoring in this match, they showed solid organization and resilience, keeping them unbeaten for almost a year. Captain Fares Abdullah and the team celebrated with their fans knowing they had made history by reaching the knockout stages in style.
Looking ahead, the quarter-finals are shaping up to be exciting. Sudan will stay in Zanzibar to take on Algeria, while Senegal heads to Kampala to face the hosts, Uganda. With all three co-hosts—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—in the mix, and the defending champions still around, it’s going to be a thrilling festival of football with plenty of spectators expected.
