Senegal clinched third place at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) by defeating Sudan 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a gripping 1-1 draw on Friday at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.
The defending champions rebounded from their semi-final penalty defeat to Morocco, securing consecutive podium finishes at CHAN.
Sudan, meanwhile, continues its quest for a third tournament medal.
Sudan took an early lead in the sixth minute when Mohamed Tia Asad nodded in a corner from Abdel Raouf Yagoub.
“We started strong and capitalized early,” Sudan’s coach Kwesi Appiah later noted. Goalkeeper Mohamed Abooja’s key saves kept Senegal scoreless through the first half.
Senegal roared back after the break, with Seyni Ndiaye equalizing in the 58th minute via a precise header off Ousseynou Seck’s cross.
“That goal shifted our momentum,” Senegal’s coach Souleymane Diallo said. Despite dominating possession, Senegal faced a resilient Sudanese counterattack, with Abooja making further critical stops.
The match proceeded directly to penalties, as extra time was not used in the third-place playoff.
Sudan faltered, with Walieldin Khdir missing wide and Musab Makeen stopped by Senegal’s goalkeeper Marc Diouf. Senegal’s Layousse, Kane, Cissé, and Guèye calmly converted their spot-kicks to secure the 4-2 victory.
Though falling short of defending their title, Senegal maintained an impressive 10-match unbeaten streak in open play at CHAN.
“Our players showed great character after the semi-final setback,” Diallo praised.
Sudan’s campaign, despite the loss, earned widespread respect.
Under Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, the team overcame limited preparation and domestic challenges to reach the semi-finals, ousting Nigeria and challenging Madagascar.
“Our resilience speaks volumes about Sudanese football,” Appiah said.
The CHAN 2024 spotlight now shifts to Nairobi, where Morocco and Madagascar will battle for the title on Saturday.
