Nigeria’s dimming hopes of making any meaningful impact at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) in East Africa were, yesterday, extinguished by Sudan, who thrashed the Super Eagles B 4-0 at the Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar.

Following their 0-1 defeat by Senegal in their opening game last week, many followers of the Nigerian game hoped that the home-based national team would make amends with a good outing against Sudan in the Indian Ocean city, but such hopes started crumbling as early as the 25th minute when Leonard Ngenge scored an own goal while under pressure by the rampaging Sudanese,

Ngenge’s day became worse when he handled the ball to concede a penalty in the 43rd minute. Walieldin Khdir converted the penalty to make it 2-0 for the Sudanese

After the second goal, Coach Eric Chelle made a double substitution in the 45th minute with Steven Manyo replacing the hapless Ngenge and Jabbar Malik coming in for Hadi Haruna.

Perhaps, the flow of the game would have been different had a 22nd minute strike by Anthony Ijoma been allowed to stand. Instead the goal was ruled offside.

The first half ended 2-0 in Sudan’s favour.

The second half was not better for the Nigerians as the Sudanese continued from where they stopped in the first half, getting their third goal in the 55th minute through Abdel Raouf Yagoub, who was assisted by Musa Hussien.

It soon became 4-0 in the 62nd minute, again through Yagoub, who beat the Nigerian goalkeeper, Mustapha Lawal, from way outside the box.

Thereafter, with their task done, the Sudanese elected to enjoy themselves for the remainder of the game, knocking the ball around until referee Lotfi Bekoussa decided to pull Chelle and his boys out of their misery.

With the win, Sudan is atop Group D with four points, same as Senegal, which drew 1-1 with Congo in the first game of the day.

Congo have two points as they drew their first game with Sudan. They need to beat Nigeria with at least 2-0 while hoping that Senegal do not beat Sudan in their last game to make the second round of the championship.

Nigeria’s last match against Congo is just a mere formality for the Eagles as the most they can get is three points, which will not be enough to overtake either Sudan or Senegal, which have better head to head than Nigeria.