National Teams
‘I’m Sorry, Nigeria’ – Ngenge apologizes after costly error in CHAN defeat to Sudan
By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria’s CHAN Eagles defender Leonard Ngenge has publicly apologized to Nigerians following his mistake that led to a 4-0 defeat against Sudan in the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) on Tuesday.
Ngenge, who had been solid in Nigeria’s opening match against Senegal, made a costly error in the second game. The Remo Stars centre-back inadvertently headed the ball into his own net, increasing Nigeria’s deficit in a game that saw them eliminated from the competition.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ngenge expressed his regret with a simple apology emoji and the Nigerian flag. He acknowledged his role in the loss, writing: “Sorry, Nigeria.”
Despite the error, Ngenge had been one of Nigeria’s standout performers in the tournament, particularly in the opening loss to Senegal.
However, his unfortunate own goal against Sudan compounded the team’s defensive problems in the match, which ultimately ended in a heavy defeat.
The defender, who recently joined Remo Stars after leaving Ikorodu City, has already earned praise for his performances in the domestic league.
He is expected to be a key figure under Daniel Ogunmodede in the coming season, following a solid campaign with the Oga Boys.
Ngenge’s apology was met with support from fans, many of whom encouraged him to move forward and learn from the experience.
His promising performances at both the domestic and international levels suggest that he will continue to be an asset to Nigerian football in the future.
