Head coach Kwesi Appiah has praised his team for the good show in the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 despite limited preparations.

Sudan finished fourth in the tournament after losing 4-2 on penalties to 2023 champions Senegal after the two teams had tied 1-1 in regular time in a match played at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole in Kampala on Friday.

The Falcons of Jediane came top in Group D that was based in Zanzibar, and lost 1-0 to Madagascar at the semi final stage. Sudan was the best team in the CECAFA Zone, with co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda all falling at the quarter final stage

Appiah, a former coach of the Ghana national team said that although it was painful to suffer defeat in the third place play-off, he was proud of the determination of his team and how their performance earned admiration across the continent.

“We didnot have the opportunity to prepare for a long time and remember in Sudan we have not had a prolonged League forcing Al Hilal and El Merriekh to play in the Mauritania Premier League. It has not been really easy, but these players have showed determination and will to fight for the country,” added Appiah.

He made it clear that the CHAN tournament has become very competitive compared to when it started 2029. “The tournament this year was very competitive and several teams have improved,” he added.

The Sudan head coach said that since most of the players in the CHAN team also play in the senior team, the tournament helped him prepare the team ahead of a crucial stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches in September.

While Sudan finished fourth in the CHAN competition, Morocco beat Madagascar in the final to win their third CHAN title. Senegal settled for third place.

Another team from the CECAFA Zone Sudan has qualified for the quarter final stage at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF African Championships (CHAN) 2024.

The Falcons of Jediane advanced to the knock out stage after holding reigning champions Senegal to a goalless in their last Group D match played at the Amaan Stadium on Tuesday night.

Sudan finished top of the group with 5 points and a better goal difference than Senegal who also completed with the same number of points. Nigeria who stopped Congo Brazzaville 2-0 finished third with 3 points.

The Sudan team has now joined other CECAFA teams Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at the quarter finals stage.

Sudan handled by Kwesi Appiah will now face Algeria, while Senegal travel to face Uganda in Kampala in the other quarter final matches all to be played on Saturday.

Kenya will take on Madagascar in Nairobi, and Tanzania battle Morocco in the first quarter final ties on Friday.

The semi-final matches will take place on August 26^th, while the third place play-off is slated for August 29^th, and the final August 30^th in Nairobi.

The champions of CHAN 2024 will receive US$3.5 million, while the runner-up will receive US$1.2 million. The third and fourth placed teams will take home $700,000 and $600,000, respectively.

Each of the four losing quarter-finalists will earn US$450,000, and teams that finished third or fourth in their group will pocket either US$300,000 or US$200,000, depending on group size, while bottom-placed sides in five-team groups will receive US$200,000 each.

Quarter final matches

Kenya vs Madagascar

Tanzania vs Morocco

Sudan vs Algeria

Uganda vs Senegal

Talk about late moments in sport and co-hosts Uganda proved it when they battled from 3-1 goals down to draw with South Africa 3-3 and qualify for the quarters of the on-going TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024.

Going into the crucial Group C match on Monday night, Uganda needed only a point, while Bafana Bafana needed an outright win at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole.

After several raids at the South African goal Uganda took the lead through Jude Ssemugabi after 31 minutes.

In the second half Bafana Bafana came all out to level matters through Ramahlwe Mpahahlele after 52 minutes. The Ugandan goalkeeper Joel Mutakubwa had parried the ball back into play and Mpahahlele finished in the net.

The referee had initially cancelled the goal, by the officials at the VAR desk cleared the goal.

The South African team dictated play as they attacked in numbers. Six minutes later Thabiso Kuthmela made it 2-1 for the visitors.

Uganda Cranes tried to fight back making some changes, but the South African team coninued to attack.

After poor misjudging by the Ugandan goalkeeper, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo made it 3-1 for Bafana Bafana with a well taken chip that rested at the corner of the net.

There was another twist to the match as the hosts got a penalty after 88 minutes when South African defender Keagan Johannes brought down a Ugandan player in the box. Allan Okello stepped forward and conevretd a penalty to make it 2-3.

In the sixth minute of added time Uganda got a second penalty after a handball in the box. Skipper Rogers Torach converted the penalty to make it 3-3. It was all celebrations after the final whistle.

The draw for Uganda and a draw in the other Group C match between Algeria and Niger played in Nairobi means Uganda finish top of the Group with 7 points to book a place in the quarters.

It is the first time Uganda Cranes qualify for the knock out stage of the CHAN competition in all their seven time appearances.

Tanzania’s head coach has said topping group B at the on-going TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 means they have written history.

“It has not been an easy journey playing four matches in the group winning three and drawing one,” said coach Hamad Suleiman after his team settled for a goalless draw against the Central African Republic (CAR) in a match played on Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Taifa Stars kick started their campaign with a 2-0 win against Burkina Faso, stopped Mauritania 1-0 and also saw off Madagascar 2-1.

The draw in the last group match meant they finished with an imporessive 10 points, while Madagascar who beat Burkina Faso 2-1 secured second place to make it to the quarter final stage.

But Suleiman has made it clear that they need to keep working hard because they have now entered the knock out stage where team must win. “We know what to expect ahead and we must prepare for that,” says the coach.

Tanzania’s midfield icon Feisal Salum who was voted Man of the Match said that they are happy to qualify for the quarter final without losing a match in the group stage. “We shall keep working hard because we know the quarter final stage will not be simple,” added Salum.

Action continues on Sunday with DR Congo taking on Morocco, and Zambia facing Kenya in Group A matches in Nairobi. Co-hosts Kenya have already secured a place in the quarter finals.