Nigeria’s hopes at the 2025 African Nations Championship ended in disaster on Tuesday night after the home-based Super Eagles were dismantled 4-0 by Sudan in Zanzibar, Footynaija.com reports.
The heavy defeat not only confirmed their elimination from the tournament but also matched the joint-heaviest loss in the country’s CHAN history, equalling the 2018 final setback to Morocco by the same scoreline.
The result leaves Nigeria without a point from their opening two Group D matches, having earlier fallen 1-0 to defending champions Senegal. Against Sudan, the team collapsed after a disallowed first-half goal from Anthony Ijoma, conceding four times through a combination of defensive errors and poor concentration. As revealed in an earlier report, the goals came from an own goal by Leonard Ngenge, a Walieldin Khidir penalty, and a brace from Abdel Raouf Yagoub.
In a report by CAF Online, Sudan’s coach Kwesi Appiah said he “wasn’t expecting the scoreline,” while Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who before the match promised Nigeria would play ‘the best game of our lives’, admitted it was the lowest point of his managerial tenure.
“We have lost all ambition. The CHAN is over for us. We have a third match to play for our honour and respect. But I am disappointed by this match. It is the worst game I have overseen from the dugout as coach,” Eric Chelle conceded, while speaking to reporters after the match.
He warned that another performance like this could see the scoreline become even worse in the final group game.
“If we play this way against Congo, it would not be just four. We have to clear our minds and mentally get ready for Congo,” he said.
The Nigerian boss also acknowledged the effect of losing some players before the tournament but insisted his squad still contained the best talents from the NPFL.
“Though some important players left our preparations camp, these were the best players in our league. We cannot play a game like that and lose in the manner we did. We need to be more focused,” Chelle added.
Looking back on the match’s turning point, the coach said his players maintained discipline in the opening 20 minutes until the disallowed goal altered their rhythm.
“Our goal was ruled out, and afterwards, we made a lot of mistakes… four mistakes, four goals. Our training session before the game went well. We analysed Sudan’s team. We prepared well, but were not ready for as many mistakes.”