Wounded Eagles vs Desperate Red Devils: A CHAN clash of survival and pride
For Congo's coach, Barthelemy Ngatsono, it's about survival.
'There is no alternative to victory,' he declared, setting the tone for a must-win game that could keep their quarter-final dreams alive.
On the opposite bench, Nigeria's coach Eric Sekou Chelle is looking for redemption. His side are already eliminated after two painful defeats, yet he insists the Super Eagles still have unfinished business.
'We want to end the competition with a victory,' Chelle explained. 'We haven't scored yet, and this game is our chance to put things right.'
Nigeria's Fight for Dignity
For Chelle, the challenge is not only tactical but psychological. Nigeria have conceded five goals without reply in two matches, and he admitted mistakes have haunted his team.
'Of course, I take responsibility as coach. But now it's about lifting morale. We must return home with something positive,' he said.
Losing key players before the tournament due to overseas transfers left Nigeria scrambling, and Chelle lamented the disruption: 'Eight of our players from the qualifiers left. That's 80% of the squad gone. We had to rebuild on the fly.'
Yet the coach sees this final match as a chance to showcase resilience.
'Football is about learning lessons. We must show our positive side now,' he urged, stressing that small tactical changes would be made against Congo. Ngatsono's Rallying Cry for Congo
For Congo, the stakes are higher. With one point from their opening two games, only a win keeps them alive. Ngatsono has instructed his players to block out the pressure and seize the moment.
'We respect Nigeria, but they are like a wounded lion,' he said. 'They will play with pride, so we must be sharper and stay focused.'
The Congolese coach admitted his team's attacking struggles—just one goal scored in two games—but remains confident.
'Everything will be decided on the pitch. We have the spirit and determination to get the result we need.'
Congo's forward, Gosim Duvan Elenga, echoed the sentiment: 'We enter this match with the same determination as before. We are ready.'
Players Determined to Deliver
Nigeria's Junior Nduka, one of the leaders in the squad, promised that the Super Eagles will not fold despite elimination.
'We need a win for the country. We'll give everything against Congo,' he said. 'The two defeats affected us, but we must bounce back.' An Open Contest to the Final Whistle
This Group D decider promises intensity until the last second. Congo's fate will also depend on the outcome of Sudan vs Senegal, but they cannot afford to think beyond Nigeria.
For the Super Eagles, this match is less about qualification and more about pride, closure, and showing that even in defeat, lessons can be learned.
As the coaches agreed, all will be decided on the green grass of the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. Whether it is Congo clinging to life or Nigeria fighting for respect, fans are guaranteed a dramatic finale.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CAF
2 hours ago
- CAF
Sudan hold champions Senegal to seal top spot in CHAN Group D
Sudan and Senegal both advanced to the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 after playing out a tense goalless draw at Zanzibar's Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night. The result ensured Sudan topped Group D on goal difference, with holders Senegal progressing in second place. At the same time, Nigeria defeated Congo 2-0 in Dar es Salaam, but the Super Eagles' late push was not enough to dislodge the two unbeaten sides. Stalemate with High Stakes It was billed as the decisive match of Group D, and it lived up to the occasion, even without goals. Sudan, rejuvenated under Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, came into the fixture brimming with belief after their 4-0 dismantling of Nigeria. Senegal, the reigning champions, knew only defeat could eliminate them but were equally determined to secure top spot. Both sides traded chances in a cagey first half. Senegal's Pape Badji twice came close — first dragging a shot wide from the edge of the six-yard box before seeing another effort fly off target. At the other end, Sudan tested goalkeeper Marc Diouf through Abdel Raouf Yagoub, whose strike from distance was well gathered. The drama reached boiling point in stoppage time of the first half when Sudan appealed for a penalty, only for VAR to rule no infringement, to the relief of Souleymane Diallo's Senegalese side. A Fierce Midfield Battle The second half mirrored the first — fast, physical, and fiercely contested. Sudan's Musa Hussien had the best opening for the Cranes, shooting over from close range, while Mohamed Tia Asad also missed narrowly after coming off the bench. Senegal, meanwhile, looked to Libasse Guèye for inspiration, but Sudan's disciplined backline repelled the danger. The champions' frustrations boiled over when Mbaye Yaya Ly was shown a second yellow card deep into stoppage time, leaving Senegal to finish with ten men. Despite their numerical advantage, Sudan had little time to capitalise, and the game ended with honours even. Group D Settled The stalemate meant both teams finished level on five points, but Sudan's superior goal difference (+4 compared to Senegal's +1) secured them first place. In Dar es Salaam, Nigeria's 2-0 victory over Congo lifted them to third with three points, while Congo bowed out bottom with two. For Nigeria, the result was bittersweet. They delivered their best display of the tournament, but their earlier defeats left them short of qualification. Appiah's Sudan Stay Unbeaten Kwesi Appiah's tenure has transformed Sudan into one of the competition's most disciplined and adventurous sides. The Ghanaian coach promised his team would attack, and though they did not score, Sudan again showed the organisation and resilience that have kept them unbeaten for almost a year. Captain Fares Abdullah and his side celebrated with their fans at full time, knowing they had made history by reaching the CHAN knockout stages in style. Quarter-Final Picture The draw sets up a tantalising last-eight line-up. Sudan will remain in Zanzibar to face Algeria, while Senegal travel to Kampala to meet hosts Uganda, in what promises to be a fiery clash in front of a packed Mandela National Stadium. With all three co-hosts — Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — already through, and defending champions Senegal still in the mix, the quarter-finals are shaping up to be a festival of football with huge crowds expected.
CAF
17 hours ago
- CAF
Algeria's nerve, Bougherra's calm: How the Desert Foxes survived a group of fire
In the end, Algeria's qualification for the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 was less about flair and more about nerve. After 90 tense minutes in Nairobi against Niger, a goalless draw was all that separated relief from despair. For coach Madjid Bougherra, however, there was no panic – just calm conviction and a focus on what comes next. Travel as a Positive, Not a Burden While some managers might grumble about logistics, Bougherra embraced the novelty of CHAN's historic first edition co-hosted by three nations – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. For him, the movement between cities has been more refreshing than fatiguing. 'Nothing has changed because of the travel. I'm happy that the competition is being held in three countries – at least players have a chance to travel across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania,' he said after sealing Algeria's passage. 'It is good to travel because when you stay in one place for a long time then it can be tough for the players and a little bit routine.' His words echo the wider mood of CHAN 2024: a festival spread across East Africa, where journeys have become part of the adventure. A Slippery Night in Nairobi At the Nyayo National Stadium, rain made the surface heavy and conditions tricky. But Bougherra brushed aside excuses. 'The conditions were okay for us. The pitch was nice, maybe just a little heavy because of the rain but it was okay. It was a bit colder than Kampala. But in terms of the performance nothing changed.' Algeria had enough chances to win, Soufiane Bayazid and Mehdi Merghem both testing Niger's goalkeeper Mahamadou Tanja. But in the end, it was Algeria's defensive discipline that mattered most. Even as Niger, already eliminated, threatened a late upset, the North Africans held firm to collect the point they needed. Surviving a Tight Group Group C was never going to be straightforward. Uganda, South Africa, Guinea and Niger made up a competitive pool where every slip proved costly. 'Our group was tough and you can see that qualification came in the last game. It shows that the level has become high in the CHAN,' Bougherra admitted. Uganda topped the standings with a dramatic 3-3 draw against South Africa in Kampala, leaving Algeria level on six points with the Bafana Bafana but ahead on goal difference. Guinea, despite flashes of promise, finished short, while Niger exited without a goal. For Algeria, survival was the story. Objectives Reset Bougherra was clear that Algeria had already ticked off their first box. 'We already achieved our first objective which was to reach the quarter-final and now our new objective is the next game. In this competition we have to go game by game.' There is no hiding from the challenge ahead. 'Now we have three finals coming and we have to win a game at a time. Definitely the quarter-final will be harder but we must maintain our focus.' It is the pragmatic approach of a man who knows tournament football. In 2022, Algeria reached the final, and with defensive resilience already proven, the question now is whether they can rediscover their cutting edge in front of goal. A Test of Championship Mettle As the knockout rounds beckon, Algeria's aura remains intact: difficult to beat, tactically disciplined, and buoyed by their recent pedigree. But Bougherra has kept his men grounded. For him, CHAN 2024 is not about past achievements but the next 'final' – the quarter-final in Zanzibar. The competition has already made history with its tri-nation hosting. Now Algeria, hardened by a gruelling group stage, must write their own history in the knockout rounds.
CAF
a day ago
- CAF
Uganda survive six-goal thriller against Bafana Bafana to reach CHAN quarter-finals
Published: Monday, 18 August 2025 Uganda clinched a historic place in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 after a pulsating 3-3 draw with South Africa in front of 34,194 fans at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Monday night. The result, coupled with Algeria's goalless stalemate against Niger in the other Group C fixture, ensured the Cranes advanced as group winners for the first time in their CHAN history, while South Africa's campaign ended in heartbreak. Uganda Make History in Kampala Needing just a draw to seal their place in the last eight, Uganda looked set to cruise when Jude Ssemugabi put them ahead in the 31st minute, firing home from Patrick Kakande's assist on the counter-attack. The Cranes carried their lead into half-time and appeared in control, but what followed after the break was a breathless contest that swung back and forth until the final whistle. South Africa Fight Back The Bafana Bafana emerged transformed in the second half. Ramahlwe Mphahlele's close-range strike, awarded after a VAR check in the 52nd minute, dragged them level before Thabiso Kutumela's sharp finish from a tight angle made it 2-1 just six minutes later. The visitors' momentum continued when Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo unleashed a stunning effort from outside the box to make it 3-1 in the 83rd minute. For a brief moment, South Africa looked destined to stage one of the tournament's great turnarounds. Uganda's Dramatic Response But the hosts refused to fold. Ivan Ahimbisibwe won a penalty three minutes later, and Allan Okello calmly converted to reduce the deficit to 3-2, reigniting belief inside the stadium. The drama reached fever pitch deep into stoppage time. With the fourth official signalling eight additional minutes, Uganda poured forward and forced another penalty after a handball by Menzi Masuku. Rogers Torach stepped up in the 96th minute, slotting home to spark wild celebrations as Uganda secured the draw they needed. Group C Decided The result leaves Uganda top of Group C with seven points, one ahead of Algeria on six. South Africa also finish on six but fall short on goal difference, while Guinea (four points) and Niger (two points) exit the competition. For the Cranes, who had never reached the CHAN knockouts in seven previous attempts, this represents a landmark achievement. South Africa, meanwhile, are left to reflect on how close they came to advancing after leading with just minutes to play. Quarter-Final Prospects Uganda now march into the last eight with belief strengthened by their fighting spirit, while Algeria progress as runners-up. The Cranes' defensive resilience and Allan Okello's attacking spark will be crucial as they continue their bid to extend a dream run on home soil. For South Africa, the tournament ends in disappointment but with pride in their battling display. Their inability to hold on in the dying minutes, however, will sting for some time.
