CHAN 2024: Algeria and Sudan clash for semi-final spot in Zanzibar

Algeria’s A’ national team will face Sudan on Saturday evening at Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium in the quarter-finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is being staged in 2025.

The North African side will be looking to secure a place in the last four of the competition for the third time in their history.

Algeria progressed to the knockout stage after finishing second in Group C, behind Uganda, with an unbeaten record of one win and three draws.

Coach Madjid Bougherra’s men will now aim to extend their run in the tournament, having previously reached the semi-finals in 2011 and 2023.

The task will not be straightforward, as Sudan have emerged as one of the tournament’s surprise packages.

The East Africans topped Group D ahead of reigning champions Senegal, underlining their strength and resilience.

With Sudan fielding a squad that features many of their senior national team players, Algeria are aware that any lapse in concentration could prove costly.

Algeria have impressed in spells but have struggled for cutting edge in attack, scoring five goals across their three group matches. Bougherra will demand greater sharpness from his forwards when they take on a Sudanese side that stunned Nigeria with a 4-0 victory in the opening round before holding Senegal to a goalless draw in their final group fixture.

Speaking after Algeria’s draw with Niger in their final group-stage match, Bougherra stressed the importance of tactical discipline and physical preparation. “It will be another final,” he said. “As the competition progresses, the matches get harder

. It will come down to fine details, so recovery is crucial. We need to be tactically organised and collectively strong. If we have energy and focus for 90 minutes, we can make the difference.”

Algeria will be without midfielder Akram Bouras, who has been released by the technical staff, but Bougherra otherwise has a full squad to choose from as he prepares his line-up.

Abderrahmane Meziane and Mohamed Réda Halaïmia are expected to play key roles, as Algeria look to dominate possession and convert their chances.

Sudan, meanwhile, enter the tie full of confidence despite limited preparation. Coach Kwesi Appiah’s side only assembled four days before the start of the tournament but managed to navigate the group stage without defeat. Led by forward Abderazig Omer, they are now determined to pull off another upset.

“As the competition goes on, the matches become tougher,” Appiah said. “Senegal is behind us and now we focus on Algeria. It won’t be easy, but we will fight hard.”

This will be the second CHAN meeting between the two nations. Their first encounter came during the 2011 edition in Sudan, where the hosts won a classification match 1-0.

The winner of Saturday’s clash will advance to the semi-finals to face either Kenya or Madagascar, who meet in the other last-eight tie. The semi-final is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26, at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.