On Friday at 6pm, inside the iconic Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Sudan and Senegal will battle for the bronze medal in the 8th edition of the Chan 2024.
After intense and emotional campaigns, the two sides meet again in a clash that promises excitement, intensity and, above all, a fight for national pride.
On one side, Sudan, with a surprising run under the leadership of Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah.
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On the other, Senegal, the reigning champions, whose dream of retaining the title ended with a semi-final defeat to Morocco.
In a tournament reserved exclusively for players competing in domestic leagues, both nations seek to close their campaigns with a victory that symbolizes effort and resilience over the past weeks.
Interestingly, Sudan and Senegal will soon meet again, this time with their senior national teams. This Chan 2024 encounter, therefore, serves as a prelude to an even bigger clash.
For now, however, all focus is on today’s game, where both teams promise to leave everything on the pitch. The time for regrets has passed. Now it is about fighting for honour and glory. On the turf of the Mandela National Stadium, two nations will give their all to walk away with heads held high and a medal around their necks. May the best team win!
Sudan’s journey at Chan 2024 has been marked by the unexpected. With the domestic league suspended for more than two years due to internal conflict, Kwesi Appiah had to assemble a squad drawn mainly from Al-Hilal and Al-Merrikh, with only three days of preparation before the tournament.
Despite the adversity, the team showed unity and growth throughout the competition.
The draw against Senegal in the group stage was pivotal, securing first place in their group.
The stunning 4-0 win over Nigeria highlighted the collective strength and resilience of a side playing for more than football: bringing hope to its people.
“We want to bring smiles to the Sudanese, especially at a time when our country is going through such hardship. This game is very important to us, and we will give everything to win the medal,” said Kwesi Appiah in a press conference.
On the other side, Senegal entered the tournament with the heavy responsibility of being the defending champions.
Led by coach Souleymane Diallo, the Senegalese side fielded a young but promising team, inspired by the title-winning class of 2022.
After a solid group stage, marked by a draw with Sudan and a convincing win over Zambia, the team was stunned by Morocco in the semi-finals. Now, their focus is on securing a podium finish.
Historically, Chan encounters between Sudan and Senegal have been evenly balanced.
In their most recent clash in this edition, the two sides played out a goalless draw in a tactically disciplined battle.