National Teams
CHAN 2024: “They are very slow” – Abdel Yagoub reveals how Sudan beat Nigeria
By Wale Mustapha
Sudan striker Abdel Raouf Yagoub has revealed how his side capitalized on Nigeria’s defensive errors and sluggish play to secure a historic 4-0 victory over the Super Eagles in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 on Tuesday.
The surprising defeat, which was Nigeria’s second consecutive loss at the tournament, sent Eric Chelle’s side packing from the competition.
Yagoub, who scored twice in the match, played a pivotal role in Sudan’s dominant performance at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar.
In his post-match comments, Yagoub noted that while Nigeria’s squad was technically sound, their lack of coordination and poor recovery rate allowed Sudan to exploit their vulnerabilities.
“They are not a bad side, but they are very slow on the ball, and their recovery rate is very poor,” Yagoub said.
“That’s what we capitalized on. Their defense made a lot of mistakes, and we took full advantage.”
Sudan’s clinical finishing and swift counter-attacks exposed the Super Eagles’ inability to recover quickly after losing possession, leading to defensive lapses that ultimately resulted in the heavy defeat.
While acknowledging the quality of the Nigerian team, Yagoub emphasized that Sudan’s victory was due to tactical discipline and exploiting the opposition’s weaknesses.
With the win, Sudan has boosted their chances of advancing in the tournament and will face Senegal in their final group-stage match.
Meanwhile, Nigeria, whose early exit has left fans disappointed, will look to salvage pride when they face Congo in their final game.
