Tag: 2024 CHAN

By Victor Oguntade

In a remarkable turn of events, 15-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt has become the youngest player to feature for the Super Eagles, making his senior debut in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Group D clash against Congo.

Harcourt, who plays for Sporting Lagos Football Academy, kept a clean sheet in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory, showcasing his impressive skills and composure in goal.

“I thank God for giving me the opportunity because in life it’s all about opportunity and I took my chance very well – I made use of my chances,” Harcourt said in an interview with NFFTv. “This platform is one of the biggest stages of my football career, and it’s all about learning and consistency.”

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Harcourt’s journey to the Super Eagles has been nothing short of remarkable. From playing for Sporting Lagos Football Academy to becoming the first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria’s U-20 side, the Flying Eagles.

His impressive performances have earned him a spot in the squad that finished third at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and is expected to join his teammates in preparation for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup holding in Chile.

“With the coaches, goalkeeper coaches they guided me, I believe that I’ll be great,” Harcourt said, expressing his gratitude for the support he has received.

As the youngest player to feature for the Super Eagles, Harcourt’s achievement is a testament to his hard work and dedication. With his sights set on the future, he is poised to become one of Nigeria’s most promising football talents.

• By Victor Oguntade

The CHAN Eagles’ recent loss to Senegal in Zanzibar at the on-going 2024 CHAN , has garnered criticism from Adam Mouktar Mohammed, the Chairman of the FCT Football Association, who labelled the defeat “disturbing.”

During a discussion on Television Continental (TVC), Mouktar expressed his discontent with the team’s performance, emphasizing the necessity of representing Nigeria with pride.

“We went there not to party but to win the tournament,” he noted, highlighting the disappointment of starting the competition with a loss to a significant rival like Senegal. Despite the setback, Mouktar urged the team to focus on their next match against Sudan and prepare more effectively to achieve a better result.

Mouktar stressed the importance of the CHAN tournament in showcasing local talent, viewing it as a reflection of the quality and capabilities of players within the Nigeria’s league system.

He remarked: “If these are your best players from your league, then this is a reflection of the quality of your league.”

As the team gears up for their upcoming match, Mouktar stated the importance of the coaching staff to refine their strategies and performance levels to secure a win. He called for greater intensity and a focused game plan to improve their standings in the tournament.

In addition to performance concerns, Mouktar mentioned the President’s incentive program aimed at rewarding successful teams, which he believes could elevate motivation within the sports sector. He applauded the President’s commitment to sports, asserting that recognizing excellence and patriotism would inspire the team and the country.

“The president has shown the world that he takes sports seriously,” Mouktar said. “Rewarding sporting heroes is in order, and what it does is that it shows everybody that the president recognises excellence and patriotism.”

Following the Sudan match on Tuesday, the Eagles will prepare for their final group encounter against Congo, hoping to bounce back and keep their tournament dreams alive.

Coach Eric Sekou Chelle has questioned the mentality of the Super Eagles B team following their 1-0 defeat to Senegal on Tuesday in Zanzibar.

Chelle admitted that the defending CHAN Champions  Senegal deserved the win, adding  his team was second-best largely throughout the their  opener at Amaan Stadium. Christian Gomis’ second-half strike secured the victory for Senegal in a match where both sides created chances but lacked sharpness in front of goal.

 “I think Senegal deserved this victory because we only played well for about 20 minutes in the second half. In the first half, I didn’t recognize my team at all. Senegal was more aggressive, brought more intensity, and for me, they deserved the win more than us,” Chelle said after the match.

He added: “In the second half, we gave away the goal with two small mistakes. Maybe mentally we weren’t in the game, maybe we were scared of something. We only enjoyed about 20 minutes when we really played football, created chances, but failed to score.

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To be ambitious, we need to be more aggressive. We must fight for every ball, especially the second balls. In the first half, we lost every ball. This is just our first match; we still have two more to go, but we need to change our mind-set.”

Senegal’s winning goal came in the 75^th  minute following a swift counter-attack. Substitute Moctar Koïté drove down the right flank and delivered a precise cross into the box, where Gomis arrived unmarked to finish calmly with his left foot.

The result leaves Senegal atop Group D, while Nigeria will aim to bounce back in their next fixture.

Morocco men’s national team became the first to arrive for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), setting the tone for what promises to be an electrifying tournament co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The two-time champions touched down at Kenya’s capital airport based in Nairobi – Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) – at 4:00am local time on Monday, ahead of the tournament reserved for players playing in their national league competitions.

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Only Morocco defender Marouane Louadni, who plays for AS FAR, gave an audience to the media that was at the airport to receive the team by saying: “We are excited to be here and ready for CHAN. I already love Nairobi; the weather is great, and we are looking forward to a successful tournament.”

Group A, whose matches will be played at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium, comprises DR Congo, Angola, and Zambia. Morocco, who will be aiming to become the first country to win the CHAN title three times, will kick off their campaign against Angola at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

Winners in 2018 on home soil and again in 2021 in Cameroon, Morocco are one of only two nations to have lifted the CHAN trophy twice – the other being DR Congo, whom they will face in the group stage.