Eagles Grounded: Nigeria Dumped Out of CHAN After 4–0 Sudan Rout

Nigeria’s campaign at the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) came to a disastrous end on Tuesday, as the Eagles B were thrashed 4–0 by Sudan in Zanzibar — a result that sealed their early exit from the tournament.

Following a narrow 1–0 loss to defending champions Senegal last week, Nigeria needed a response. Instead, they delivered one of their worst performances in the competition’s history, equaling the record 4–0 defeat suffered against Morocco in the 2018 final.

The nightmare began in the 23rd minute when defender Leonard Ngenge, already under scrutiny for his sluggish defending against Senegal, turned the ball into his own net. His woes continued just before halftime when he handled the ball in an aerial duel, gifting Sudan a penalty that Daiyeen coolly converted to make it 2–0.

The second half offered no reprieve. Just ten minutes in, Yagoub Omer sliced through Nigeria’s disjointed backline to score Sudan’s third. Seven minutes later, Omer struck again — this time with flair — smashing the ball off the underside of the crossbar and into the net, leaving goalkeeper Lawal Mustapha stranded and the Eagles in ruins.

With two losses from two matches, Nigeria’s fate is sealed regardless of the outcome of their final Group D fixture against Congo in Dar es Salaam next week. The team will exit the tournament with heads bowed and questions swirling around preparation, selection, and tactical discipline.