Sudan Dump Algeria Out on Penalties to Reach CHAN Semifinals Against Madagascar

Sudan eliminated Algeria 4-2 on penalties to book their place in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final on Saturday night.

The semifinal encounter at the Amanai Stadium in Zanzibar had ended in a 1-1 draw, with an own goal by Ayoub Ghezala giving Sudan the lead before Sofiane Bayazid equalized for Algeria to take the match to penalties.

Sudan will go on to face Madagascar in the semifinal, set to be played at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, August 28

Mohamed Alnour Adam Saeed featured from the onset for Sudan following his exploits off the bench in the previous outing, whereas Algeria remained unchanged from their last group stage match.

In extremely windy conditions, it was the side of Sudan that started brightly, following a low rasping strike from Walleldin Daiyeen Khdir Safour off a short-corner but the danger was in the end averted.

Algeria came alive towards the closing quarter through a snap effort from a tight angle by Abderrahmane Meziane Ben Tahar following a through pass by Zakaria Draoui.

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Sudan issued a scare of their own a little later when a free-kick from Salah Eldin Adil Ahmed Al Hassan on the edge of the area shaved the top of the crossbar by a mere inches.

The pace of the Sudanese side continued to trouble Algeria after the restart, forcing them into mistakes, and the efforts paid off in the 48th minute when Ayoub Ghezala turned the ball into his own net under pressure.

Sudan launched a telling threat ten minutes later when Abdelrazig Taha Yagoub Omer broke out wide and fired from a tight angle, but his effort flew just wide.

Algeria still enjoyed a few openings through Aimen Mahious, Mohamed Reda Halhalima, Abdenour Kaci, and Zakaria Bouhalfaya, but they failed to find the finishing touch.

The North Africans nearly had the equalizer towards the final ten minutes when a header by Bendenoun Iheb Belhocini struck the upright with Mazin Bashir Simbo caught off his line.

Unable to break through, Algeria looked to the bench, introducing Messala Merbah and Bellil Boukercha, while Sudan refreshed with Mohammed Teya and Musab Mohammed Makeen.

In the 77th minute, Sofiane Bayazid leveled matters with a composed finish, which had to be reviewed by VAR after Sudanese players protested, claiming there was an offence on goalkeeper Mazin Bashir Simbo.

Neither side could break the deadlock in the closing stages of regulation time, as both nations struggled to create any clear openings and the game went into extra time.

It was more of the same in extra time, and despite Sudan dominating the match with their pace and pressure, the score remained level after 120 minutes of play.

But it was Sudan who held their nerve in the penalty shootout, as Mohammed Teya converted the decisive spot-kick to send Sudan into the semifinals.

Sudan now advance to the semifinals where they will face Madagascar, who eliminated Kenya on penalties.

Sudan XI: Mohamed Alnour Adam Saeed, Eltayeb Abdelrazig Abaker Abdalla, Walleldin Daiyeen Khdir Safour, Mazin Bashir Simbo, Abdelrazig Taha Yagoub Omer, Yaser Awad Boshara, Salah Eldin Adil Ahmed Al Hassan, Mazin Fadul Albahl, Ahmed Abdalmonem Yousif, Musa Hussein Musa Ali, Mohammed Teya

Substitutes: Musab Mohammed Makeen, Mohamed Ahmed Saeed Ahmed, Khater Awadalla Gumaa, Maaz Kindani Koko, Awad Zaid Bakhiet Gadin, Elmossbah Faissal, Mobarak Abdalla Ahmed Abdalla, Ahmed Elfathi, Mohamed Alrashed Mahmoud, Mohamed Albashara, Faris Abdallah Mamoun

Algeria: Zakaria Bouhalfaya, Adem Millet, Messala Merbah, Bendenoun Iheb Belhocini, Zakaria Draoui, Abderrahmane Meziane Ben Tahar, Mohamed Reda Halhalima, Bellil Boukercha, Abdenour Kaci, Aimen Mahious, Ayoub Abdellaoui, Mohamed Naoufel Khacef