TL;DR

The Nigerian home-based Super Eagles crashed out of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in humiliating fashion after a 4-0 thrashing by Sudan at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

Defender Leonard Ngenge’s costly own goal and penalty blunder epitomized Nigeria’s tactical frailties and poor performance in a game they desperately needed to win to advance. With no goals scored in the tournament and no points from two games, Nigeria’s CHAN campaign has been dismal.

Sudan’s clinical counter-attacks and disciplined strategy exposed Nigeria’s slow play and defensive mistakes, leaving the Super Eagles B eliminated ahead of their final group game. Jump directly to details on the match analysis, tactical errors, and lessons for Nigeria’s football future below.

How Did Nigeria’s CHAN 2024 Campaign End in Such Humiliation?

On August 12, 2025, Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles suffered a devastating 4-0 defeat to Sudan in their second Group D match at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024, hosted across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This crushing loss effectively ended Nigeria’s hopes of progressing beyond the group stage, marking one of their worst performances in the tournament’s history.

From the first whistle, it was clear Nigeria struggled to assert themselves. Despite controlling possession early on, Nigeria failed to pose a real attacking threat. The match turned in Sudan’s favor after a calamitous own goal by Nigerian defender Leonard Ngenge. Moments later, Ngenge’s handball inside the box gifted Sudan a penalty, which was confidently converted by captain Walieldin Khidir. Sudan’s ruthlessness continued in the second half with two more strikes from Abdel Raouf Yagoub, sealing a humiliating 4-0 whitewash.

Leonard Ngenge’s Blunders: The Turning Point

Leonard Ngenge’s performance became a focal point of the defeat. The Ikorodu City defender’s own goal in the 25th minute opened the floodgates for Sudan, turning what should have been a competitive match into a nightmare for Nigeria. His confidence appeared shaken as he later committed a handball inside the penalty area, leading to Sudan’s second goal just before halftime.

This was a stark reminder of how individual errors can decisively impact high-stakes matches. As a defender in the Nigerian Premier Football League, Ngenge’s mistakes were glaring at this continental stage, symbolizing Nigeria’s overall fragile defensive setup.

Tactical and Coaching Errors Behind Nigeria’s Collapse

While individual errors were costly, much of the damage was tactical. Nigeria initially dominated possession but failed to penetrate Sudan’s defense effectively, producing no shots on target. Coach Éric Chelle’s strategy failed to inspire effective attacking movement and support runs, leaving forwards isolated with their backs to goal.

Moreover, Nigeria’s high full-back positioning exposed their defense to rapid Sudanese counter-attacks. After the own goal, Nigeria showed no substantial tactical adaptation to shield their vulnerable defense or regain control, allowing Sudan to exploit spaces repeatedly.

In addition, the lack of midfield protection left Nigeria exposed in transitions, a weakness Sudan ruthlessly exploited by executing quick attacks that caught Nigerian defenders off guard. Coach Chelle’s persistence with the same defensive setup, despite early mistakes, proved costly.

Sudan’s Tactical Discipline and Clinical Finishing

Sudan’s approach was based on absorbing Nigeria’s pressure early and hitting swiftly on the counter-attack. Despite challenges with fitness due to their disrupted domestic league, Sudan’s players demonstrated tactical discipline, sharp passing, and lethal finishing. The captain Walieldin Khidir and midfielder Abdel Raouf Yagoub were particularly instrumental, combining intelligence and composure in front of goal.

This strategy paid dividends, with Sudan scoring four goals from key moments, capitalizing fully on Nigeria’s defensive lapses.

What This Means for Nigeria’s Football Future at Home-Based Level

Nigeria’s early exit from CHAN with zero points from two matches raises serious questions about player development and coaching at the home-based level. The slow pace of play and poor recovery reflected a lack of sharpness compared to continental peers. Tactical naivety and failure to adjust in-game were frustrating to watch given Nigeria’s footballing pedigree.

The defeat echoes Nigeria’s previous heavy losses (including a similar 4-0 defeat to Morocco in 2018), signaling a need for systemic review of scouting, tactics, and mental resilience programs for locally based players.

What Fans and Analysts Are Saying

The public reaction has been one of disappointment mixed with calls for accountability. Fans highlight the shame brought to Nigerian football by repeated individual and collective errors, with many pointing to Ngenge’s mistakes as symbolic of deeper issues within the team setup.

Experts have underscored the importance of better coaching and psychological conditioning, advocating for tactical adaptability and improved preparation to avoid similar embarrassments in future tournaments.