Football has a way of creating unlikely heroes, and Tuesday’s TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) semi-final in Dar es Salaam promises exactly that.
Sudan, a nation facing internal challenges but thriving under Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah, will meet Madagascar, the island nation whose remarkable rise has captured the imagination of the continent.
Neither team has ever reached a CHAN final. A win at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (17:30 local time) would write a historic chapter in their football history and give East Africa rare continental recognition.
Few expected Sudan to make it this far. Yet under Appiah, the Falcons of Jediane have defied expectations.
After topping their group ahead of defending champions Senegal, Sudan stunned Algeria, last edition’s finalists, on penalties in Zanzibar.
Appiah insists the move from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam will not affect his team. “The most important thing is preparing our players. This is a semi-final, and it won’t be easy. We will fight until the very end,” he said.
For Appiah, the motivation goes beyond football. “Our goal is to make the Sudanese people happy. All they want is to see our fighting spirit on the pitch.”
If Sudan represents resilience, Madagascar embodies teamwork and belief.
The Barea have built on their 2022 semi-final run, eliminating debutants Kenya in Nairobi on penalties. Coach Romuald Rakotondrabe says victory has strengthened his team’s confidence.
“Our strength is our unity. We have players who can make a difference, and we believe in teamwork. We will fight to qualify for the final, keeping our goals in mind until the last minute,” he said.
This semi-final is more than a meeting of underdogs it is a battle of styles. Sudan relies on discipline and mental strength, while Madagascar prefers fluid, possession-based football.
Rakotondrabe stressed focus. “We must stay alert, especially in front of goal. Our aim is to qualify, not just perform. We have studied Sudan and are ready.”
Sudan defender Faris Abdallah Mamoun echoed this determination. “We are prepared and united. All players have pledged to give their best to make the Sudanese people proud.”
Both teams have scored six goals this edition and remain unbeaten in knockout shootouts. Sudan is in its third semi-final but has never reached a final, losing to Angola in 2011 and Nigeria in 2018. Madagascar aims to become the first island nation to reach a CAF senior final.
This match is symbolic. It highlights African football’s depth beyond traditional powerhouses. Whether it is Sudan, finding pride through sport, or Madagascar, defined by resilience, a new finalist is guaranteed.
“This is a big match, and it won’t be easy. But we are ready to fight until the end,” Appiah said.
Both coaches have praised CHAN PAMOJA 2024’s organization, calling it a unifying celebration.
For fans, Tuesday’s clash is about more than football: it is about spirit over adversity, teamwork over limitations, and hope over hardship.
By the final whistle, Africa will know its newest finalist a team whose journey will define CHAN PAMOJA 2024.