Giants who have fallen by the wayside as Chan enters last four

If someone told you that Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, DR Congo, or even Angola would fail to reach the quarterfinals of a major continental football tournament 10 years ago, you’d undoubtedly have laughed it off.

Yet, here we are.

The word “surprise” mostly represents the unexpected, but it can also stand for the astonishing, a word that best describes the manner in which these five African footballing nations have been eliminated in the ongoing African Nations Championship (Chan).

Co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, Chan 2024 has registered shocking yet exciting results, as far as the host nations’ faithful are concerned. The ‘mighty’ have stumbled.

The Harambee Stars, Cranes and Taifa Stars had, despite all odds, topped their respective groups and qualified for the quarterfinals.

The tournament kicked off on August 2, with Tanzania winning in style (2-0) in an entertaining Group B clash against Burkina Faso at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

They then secured two more victories v Madagascar (2-1) and Mauritania (1-0), before a barren draw against the Central African Republic.

Madagascar also advanced to the quarter-finals after winning two of their four matches.

Kenya and Morocco battled their way out of Group A, while Uganda and Algeria qualified from Group C. In Group D, Sudan and defending champions Senegal played a barren draw in Zanzibar to secure their qualification.

Harambee Stars, however, fell painfully short of fans’ expectations, bowing out on post-match penalties to the Barea at Kasarani Stadium.

Neighbours Tanzania suffered a similar fate at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium Dar es Salaam, stunned 1-0 by Morocco on Friday.

A day later, Uganda’s Cranes saw their journey cut short on home soil, falling to the Lions of Teranga, who look determined on defending their title.

The round’s biggest shock perhaps came from surprise package Sudan, who beat Algeria 4-2 on penalties after a pulsating battle in Zanzibar. The victory set up a mouthwatering semifinal with Madagascar, while Senegal and Morocco prepare to fight for a place in the Nairobi final.

Even though one might argue that the tournament is only for locally based players, it does expose the differing levels of quality between African local leagues.

Nigeria

Under coach Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles were contenders for the title, considering the immense expectation put on them by a football-mad nation back in West Africa. However, a 1-0 defeat by the Lions of Teranga and a 4-0 humbling by the Falcons of Jediane saw them become among the first nations to exit the tournament.

Even though they salvaged their pride by a 2-0 win over Congo Republic, one would think a country boasting clubs like Rivers United, Kano Pillars, Plateau United and Akwa United would do better.

South Africa

No elimination was as dramatic or painful as South Africa’s. Bafana Bafana started the tournament well with a 1-1 draw v Algeria, followed by a hard-fought 2-1 win over Guinea. On August 18, leading 3-1 with a few minutes to play, Molefi Ntseki’s men collapsed spectacularly.

They threw away a two-goal lead. Going from first in the group to third in five minutes after drawing with Uganda 3-3. The Cranes took the lead through Jude Ssemugabi before the break, but SA leveled the score in the 52nd minute via Ramahlwe Mphahlele. Six minutes later, Thabiso Kutumela put Bafana ahead after latching onto a throw-in toward the 18-yard-box. SA added a third in the 83rd minute, with a clean Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo finish after a fast counter-attack.

Bafana then conceded a penalty soon after, which was scored by Uganda’s Allan Okello two minutes from full time. Controversy erupted at stoppage time after VAR officials saw a handball inside the South African box. Referee Vincent Kaire referee awarded Uganda a penalty after being called to review at the pitch side monitor. Rogers Torach converted from the spot, an equaliser that sent his nation top of Group C, knocking out Bafana.

Zambia

Chipolopolo were the worst side in the tournament, having registered only two goals, while losing all four games. Zambia lost 2-0 to DR Congo, 2-1 to Angola, 3-1 to Morocco and 1-0 to Kenya, with their coach AVram Grant admitting he could not remember the last time he lost four games in a row. “I don’t like to lose. I can’t remember the last time I lost four games in a row, but this was not the target,” said Grant.

DR Congo

The two-time champions did not get to move their iconic “Fimbu na Fimbu” celebration past the group stage after falling victim to hosts Kenya and Morocco. Even though they beat Zambia 2-1 at the Nyayo Stadium, their efforts fell short as they finished third in Group A. Coach Otis Ng’oma had accused unknown people of coming to spy on their training routines before the first match defeat to Harambee Stars, but their overall performance was not convincing enough to guarantee a quarterfinal position.