A tense and dramatic encounter between Congo and Sudan at the Amaan Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night, as both teams settled for a point in their opening Group D fixture of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.

The match, the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the tournament, was a thrilling spectacle that saw late heroics and a fight for every point.

The biennial competition, which is exclusively for players plying their trade in their national domestic leagues, saw Sudan start with more purpose, testing Congo’s goalkeeper Ulrich Samba with a barrage of set-pieces.

Their sustained pressure paid off on the half-hour mark when Musa Hussien pounced on a rebound from his own blocked shot to calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner, giving Sudan a 1-0 lead.

Congo, trailing 1-0 at the interval, re-emerged with renewed vigour after coach Barthélemy Ngatsono introduced fresh legs in a triple substitution on the hour mark.

The changes helped the Red Devils regain control, but Sudan continued to look dangerous on the counter. The match’s climax came in the dying minutes when Congo’s efforts finally bore fruit.

In the 86th minute, substitute Carly Ekongo latched onto a loose ball in the Sudanese box and smashed home a low finish from close range, sending the Congolese bench into wild celebration and securing a crucial equalizer.

The final moments of the game were filled with tension, with stoppage time stretching to ten minutes. Both sides pushed for a winner, with Sudan coming agonizingly close when Mazin Simbo’s header was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Ulrich Samba, who was once again a hero for his team.

For Congo, the draw is a significant result, as it marks their first goal in open play in over three CHAN matches, ending a goalless drought that dated back to 2020.

For Sudan, the result extends their winless streak in open play at CHAN to five matches but represents a positive step forward after a disappointing 2022 campaign.

Both teams will now turn their attention to their upcoming Group D fixtures. Congo will face title holders Senegal next, while Sudan prepares for a potentially decisive clash against Nigeria, with every point proving vital in a tightly contested group.

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