Sudan eager to add to Mauritania's woes

Omer Suliman Koko of Sudan celebrates goal surrounded by teammates during the 2018 Chan football game between Guinea and Sudan at Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca, Morocco on 14 January 2018 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix

by Bertin Basson

Tuesday Jan 16, 2018. 19:30

Sudan will be hoping to make it two wins from two matches at the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament when they lock horns with Mauritania in a Group A clash at the Stade Mohamed V in Casablanca on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 21h30 CAT.

The Falcons of Jediane got their campaign up and running with a 2-1 win over Guinea at the very same venue this past weekend.

Omer Koko and Saifeldin Bakhit with a goal apiece as Sudan claimed a narrow victory over the West Africans, who had leveled matters just short of the hour mark. Bakhit's winner coming in the 75th minute of the encounter.

Mauritania held their own for most of their encounter against host nation Morocco in the opening game of the tournament. But, having restricted the Atlas Lions to a goalless scoreline at the break, the home side found their groove to ultimately record an emphatic 4-0 win.

Head coach Corentin Martins was honest in his assessment of the clash as Mauritania now aim to bounce back against the 2011 Chan tournament hosts.

“The first half was a miracle, we were able to abort many attempts, but Moroccans managed to dominate the game in the second half,” explained Martins in the aftermath.

“It is normal. They [Morocco] work on themselves intensively, some of the players won the Champions League. There are too many differences between our players and theirs.”

Morocco will meet Guinea in Casablanca on the same day with the hosts aiming to book their place in the next round with another convincing display.