CHAN 2024: Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan To Battle Madagascar For Final Berth
James Kwesi Appiah is standing on the brink of history. The Ghanaian tactician, who once guided the Black Stars at the FIFA World Cup, now carries the hopes of Sudan as they prepare for a defining clash against Madagascar in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.
For Appiah, this is more than just another tactical battle—it is a chance to etch Sudan’s name into uncharted territory, and in many ways, redeem his own coaching journey on the continental stage.
Sudan’s path to the last four has been steady rather than spectacular. Under Appiah’s watchful eye, the team has remained undefeated in four matches, drawing three and winning one.
Their resilience was on full display in the quarter-finals against Algeria, where they held firm for 90 tense minutes before prevailing in a penalty shootout. It was the type of disciplined, tactical performance Appiah has long been known for: cautious in approach, pragmatic in execution, and utterly dependent on collective effort.
Their opponents Madagascar, however, represent a very different challenge. The island nation has become one of African football’s most intriguing stories in recent years. After reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 edition, they have once again defied the odds to find themselves among the final four.
This time, they did it the hard way, knocking out hosts Kenya in a dramatic quarter-final that went to penalties. Fenohasina Razafimaro, who has now scored in consecutive matches, kept them alive before his teammates held their nerve from the spot.
The semi-final in Dar es Salaam carries a fascinating subplot: it is only the second time Madagascar and Sudan are meeting in CHAN history. Their first encounter was at the 2022 tournament in a group that also featured Ghana.
On that occasion, Madagascar ran out 3-0 winners, a result that secured their progression and sent Sudan home early. Appiah will remember that loss vividly, even though he was not in charge at the time—it is the kind of painful history he will want to rewrite.
The statistics suggest a tightly balanced contest. Both sides have scored six goals in this edition, though Madagascar have played one game more. Sudan’s efficiency stands out—they have managed fewer shots on target but boast a higher conversion rate than their opponents.
Madagascar, on the other hand, thrive on intensity, leading the semi-finalists in tackles and duels won. They will look to unsettle Sudan with energy and physicality, testing the discipline that Appiah demands from his players.
For Sudan, this is their third appearance in the semi-finals, having fallen at the same stage in 2011 and 2018. They have never reached the final, and defeat here would make them the first nation to lose three semi-finals at CHAN.
For Appiah, whose coaching reputation has sometimes been questioned since his departure from Ghana, the stakes are deeply personal.
Guiding Sudan into the final would not only make history for the East African nation but also reaffirm his standing as one of the continent’s most experienced and resilient coaches.
Madagascar, meanwhile, are chasing their first ever continental final at senior level. A victory would make them only the second COSAFA member to reach a CHAN final after Angola in 2011, and the first island nation ever to do so.
Their story has been one of persistence and gradual rise, and this tournament could yet provide the most glorious chapter in their football journey.
As the semi-final approaches, much of the spotlight will inevitably fall on the touchline. Kwesi Appiah’s calm demeanor belies the significance of the task ahead. He knows better than most how fine the margins are in knockout football—his own Black Stars were once denied an AFCON final place by the width of a penalty miss.
In Sudan, he has found a team willing to buy into his vision of discipline, structure, and belief. Against a fearless Madagascar side brimming with confidence, that vision will be put to its sternest test yet.
On Tuesday afternoon in Dar es Salaam, one nation’s dream of a first-ever CHAN final will be realized. For Kwesi Appiah, it could also be the night his coaching story takes on a new dimension—this time not as the man leading Ghana, but as the architect of Sudan’s greatest footballing moment.