CHAN2024: Sudan stun Algeria on penalties to book final semis ticket
.jpg)
Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 23.08.25. | 23:20
With the result, Sudan will now face Madagascar in the semi-final scheduled for Tuesday, 26 August, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole
Sudan secured a historic qualification to the semi-finals of the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after beating Algeria 4-2 on post-match penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
The Falcons of Jediane took on Algeria in the last quarter-final match played at Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar, from 2000 hrs (EAT).
Sudan qualified for the last eight after finishing on top of Group D, while Algeria finished second in Group C.
Algeria started the match on the front foot, visibly looking for an early goal, but the Sudanese defense was comfortably dealing with the numerous crosses coming their way.
As at the quarter mark, no shots had been registered in the match, even though Algeria looked the most lively of the two sides.
In the 16th minute, against the run of play, Sudan produced an attack from the left side where a cross was sent to Abdelrazig Omer, who fired a shot, but Bouhalfaya in the Algerian goal was alert to make a save.
The first booking of the match came in the 24th minute when Algeria's Bilal Boukerchaoui received a yellow card for a foul in midfield, but Sudan could not threaten with it.
Algeria also won a foul in the 32nd minute, but Mohamed Reda’s free kick went over the bar and for a goal kick.
The Desert Foxes came close to taking the lead in the 38th minute when striker Aimen Mahious' powerful header from a corner struck the right post.
With no team seemingly creating better chances, the two nations headed for half-time on a barren draw.
The second half proved to have better fortunes as the deadlock was broken in the 49th minute.
A mistake at the back from Algeria gifted the ball to a Sudanese attacker who beat the goalkeeper and sent a low cross, which Algerian defender Ayoub Ghezala turned into his own net.
Sudan was unfortunate to lose their star player, Salahedlin Adli, to injury, with Mohamed Al Rasheed taking his place.
Madjid Bougherra's men responded with substitutions in order to affect the game and find an equaliser in the second half.
Algeria's advance paid off in the 78th minute when Sofiane Bayazid made a good run in the box to meet a cross that beat Mohamed Abouja in the Sudan goal.
Sudan hoped for a VAR intervention on what they thought was a foul on Abouja, but that did not come, and the goal stood.
The Falcons of Jediane responded immediately by making a triple substitution; Saeed Ahmed, Awad Zayed and Mubrak Abdalla came on for Omer, Fadul Al-Bahli and Muda Hassan.
Algeria kept pushing for a winner, but it did not come, either in the 90 minutes or the six minutes that were added, forcing the match to head to extra time.
Extra time began slowly, with fatigue clearly creeping in. Neither of the teams created chances as both were playing cautiously to avoid being caught on the counterattack.
There were no clear-cut chances in the opening fifteen minutes, as the match progressed to second-half extra time, which was more lively.
In the 108th minute, Algeria almost took the lead when Fares Nechat floated a cross from the right that was met by Khacef, but Abooja made a brilliant save from his bottom right corner to push the ball out for a corner.
A minute later, Sudan also had a chance when Ahmed Tabanja overlapped and brought in a cross which Tia Asad headed over.
Algeria's Mahious found a half chance in the 117th minute, but his shot from outside the box could not trouble Abooja.
In the end, no team was able to score, forcing the match to head to penalties.
Sudan scored four of their five penalties through Walieldin Khidir, Saeed Ahmed, Tabanja and Teya while Yaser Awad missed.
Algeria, on the other hand, scored through Mahious and Bayazid as Merdi Merghem and Zakaria Draoui missed.
With the result, Sudan will now face Madagascar in the semi-final scheduled for Tuesday, 26 August, at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole.
.jpg)
