CHAN 2024: Super Eagles B vs Sudan Preview, A Closer Look at Nigeria’s Opponent

Nigeria’s home-based Eagles will play against Sudan on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, Tanzania, for their second match in the ongoing African Nations Championship.

Nigeria will be hunting for a first win in the tournament after losing to Senegal 1-0. The Falcons of Jediane on the other hand, are also in search of their first win, facing Nigeria off the back of a 1-1 draw against Congo, where they were dealt a late equaliser that ensured they took home only one point instead of three. Sudan currently sits third in Group D with one point while Nigeria is at the bottom of the group with zero points.

Images from the last training session for the Sudan clash (Credit: Super Eagles on X)

A Closer look at the opponent.

Sudan is making their fourth appearance in the African Nations Championship. Their first appearance came in 2011. They have twice finished third (2011, 2018) and boast the tactical acumen of Ghanaian veteran coach Kwesi Appiah, who recently led Sudan’s senior side to qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Head coach, James Kwesi Appiah, was appointed in September 2023. Born in Kumasi, Ashanti, Ghana, he played as a left back in 1982–1983 for Prestea Mine Stars and 1983–1993 for Asante Kotoko. Before leading the Sudan national team, he served as the assistant coach of his homeland Ghana, from 2007 to 2012 and as coach of the U23 team in 2011. In 2012–2014 and 2017–2020 but he served as head coach.

Speaking ahead of the Nigeria clash, Appiah acknowledged Nigeria as one of the biggest nations in African Football and brushed off talks of rivalry.

“Nigeria is one of the biggest nations in African football and we respect them, but we won’t fear them. I don’t believe in any rivalry; this is a game and the best team will win. I have watched only one game of the Nigerian team and can’t assess them based on one game. I don’t see any player as a threat, but the entire team. ”

Style of play:

Sudan, currently ranked 110th by FIFA, is known for their disciplined and cautious style of football. Coach Kwesi Appiah typically sets the team up in a solid 4-3-3 formation, emphasising shape, organisation, and counter-attacks over flashy build-up play. In their recent draw with Congo, Sudan had 53% possession but created very few scoring opportunities, managing only eight shots in total and landing just 40% of their tackles. They heavily relied on launching long balls to their key striker, Musa Hussien, who scored their only goal.

Sudan Squad

Goalkeepers: Ahmed Al-Fateh (Al-Merriekh Khartoum), Mohamed Al-Nour Adam (Al-Zamala Umm Ruwaba), Mohamed Madani (Al-Hilal Khartoum.

Defenders: Ramadan Ajeeb Sharif, Awad Zaid Gadain, Musab Mohamed Makin, Ahmed Abdelmomen Ahmed (Al-Merriekh Khartoum), Mohamed Ahmed Saeed, Altayeb Abdelrazek, Mazen Bashir Siembo, Farees Abdullah Mamoun (Al-Hilal Khartoum).

Midfielders: Mohamed Al-Rasheed Mahmoud (Al-Merriekh), Salah Al-Din Adel, Wali Al-Din Khidr, Abdelrazek Omar, Yasser Muzamil Al-Tayeb, Ahmed Ismat (Al-Hilal Khartoum), Al-Musbah Faisal (Al-Amal Atbara).

Forwards: Yasser Muzamil Al-Tayeb, Yasser Awad Bushara, Ali Abdallah Hamad Al-Neel, Mohamed Abdulrahman Yousif, Mubarak Abdallah, Mousa Hussein Mousa (Al-Hilal Khartoum), Mohamed Tia Aboudikin (Al-Merriekh Khartoum), Mazen Fad Al-Bahli (Hay Al-Wadi Nyala).

Sudan’s Challenges

Sudan’s head coach, James Kwesi Appiah, has attributed his team’s fitness issues in the ongoing TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) to the lack of league football in the country. He emphasised that the absence of regular domestic competition has left his players lacking the physical sharpness needed for high-level competition.

In his post-match assessment, Appiah did not mince words.

“We’ve had no active league back home, which has really affected the fitness levels of the players,” he said. “It’s not about confidence – they’re just not in peak shape physically, and that’s a major concern for us.”

Sudan’s preparation for the tournament consisted of a brief four-day training camp. Appiah acknowledged that this short build-up made it challenging for his squad to attain the necessary competitive standard.

The lack of match fitness has contributed to several issues, including muscular injuries and lapses in tactical discipline.

“We’re struggling with muscle pulls, and there’s a bit of tactical indiscipline that we need to fix,” Appiah acknowledged.

“It’s a psychological battle too,” he explained. “I’ve had to do a lot of meetings just to get the players mentally ready to play at this level. It’s not easy, but I have to keep motivating them to believe in themselves and the team’s abilities.”

“Many Sudanese players are most comfortable playing at home – they don’t like travelling,” Appiah admitted. “I’ve been working to change that mentality, to push them to embrace the challenges that come with international competition.”

Player to Watch

Musa Hussein (Sudan)

Born October 27, 2006, Hussein plays for Al Merrikh SC. At 18, the forward is the youngest player wearing Sudan’s colours.

Nicknamed “Kanté”, Musa Hussein, making his CHAN debut, was Sudan’s lone goal scorer in their first game against Congo. He got the name from one of his friends from the city of Kassala, and it spread quickly. He loves it and carries it with pride.

When asked what playing in the CHAN tournament means to him personally, he said:

“It means everything. Since childhood, I dreamed of playing in a tournament like this and representing my country on such a big stage.”

Nigeria:

Team News: Goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena was replaced by Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt, after suffering a setback in his full recovery from a knee problem. Harcourt kept three clean sheets in four games for the Flying Eagles and was a penalty shootout hero vs Senegal in the quarter-final of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.

Player to Watch

Ngenge Leonard (Nigeria)

Ngenge born September 12, 2007 is Centre-Back. Although Nigeria conceded, his defensive efforts kept the Teranga Lions out for most of the game. A pretty solid shift from the youngster.

Ngenge, 17, has already signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Elland Road upon his 18th birthday. After a year’s stint with Ikorodu City, Leonard Ngenge is set to team up with Remo Stars for a short spell. He has Nigerian academy and his PL side, Leeds United wants the tall defender to turn 18 before moving permanently for Premier League football. Leo’s contract with Ikorodu City has ended.

Match Facts

Both Nations have only met once in the African Nations Championship, on January 30, 2018, with Nigeria winning 0-1.

General Head-to-head record

The Super Eagles are on a three-match winning run against Sudan. All of the last four matches for Sudan have ended in a draw. Nigeria have only won one of their last five games.

There have been 15 clashes between the sides in history, with Nigeria winning nine times and losing to Sudan just twice. After winning their first-ever fixture in November 1963, Sudan next beat Nigeria directly in 2014, following a run of 10 winless games.
The Super Eagles have won their last three clashes against the Falcons of Jediane.
The sides are meeting for the first time since January 2022. Nigeria are ranked 44th in the world, whereas Sudan is 110th, according to the latest FIFA World Ranking.

Venue: Amaan Stadium. Surface: Artificial turf.

This stadium boasts a seating capacity of approximately 15,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in Zanzibar. The name “Amaan” means “peace” in Swahili, symbolising unity and harmony; a perfect reflection of a venue that unites people from across the region.

The stadium was built with Chinese government aid and opened in 1970. This was China’s first stadium project in Africa and it marked the beginning of its stadium diplomacy over the decades. The stadium underwent refurbishment again with Chinese assistance, reopening in 2010.

In recent years, the stadium has undergone significant renovations to upgrade its facilities and meet international standards. The project included increasing stadium capacity to 15,000, two soccer fields, a basketball court, an indoor arena, a judo arena, a hotel, a cafe, and VIP parking.