East Africans show they don't want to lose own tournament

Alimi Sikiru Adewale (left) of Nigeria contests the ball with Congo captain Beranger Itoua during the CHAN Group D clash at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Halftime ends with the score still 0-0. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The qualification of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Sudan into the quarter-finals of the Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) has shocked a number of fancied sides in the fight for top honours.

The teams fought against all odds to emerge tops in their respective pools to cruise into the last eight and have high chances of reaching the finals.

Kenya topped Pool A, Uganda Pool B, Tanzania Pool C and Sudan Pool D.

Their performance underpins their influence in regional football by extending it to the continental level.

They were able to conquer some of the most fancied sides at the group stage.

Perfect examples are when Kenya defeated Morocco 1-0 in Pool A while Sudan beat Nigeria's Super Eagles 4-0 in Pool D.

Sudan head coach Ghanaian Kwesi Appiah said the cup is theirs to lose.

"We are determined to win this title for the first time from this region after our performance from the early stages," he said.

From their total group matches, Kenya topped Pool A with 10 points from four matches, Tanzania led Pool B with 10 points from four matches and Uganda did the same in Pool C with seven points.

And Sudan led Pool D with five points from three matches.

Their performance has proved a point to the football standards in the region.

In the quarter-finals, Kenya face Madagascar at Kasarani, Tanzania take on Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa International Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Friday and Uganda host Senegal at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala on Saturday.

Sudan has a date with Algeria at Amaan International Stadium in Zanzibar City also on Saturday.

Their performance in the last eight should prove a point that they are out for the title this time if the words of Nigerian coach Eric Chelle are anything to go by.

Chelle admitted that the standards of football in the continent have uniformly gone up, threatening the survival of former continental giants.

"Standards here (Chan) have gone up and any team can win this title this time round. There's no time to underestimate any team," he said after his side lost 4-0 to Sudan.

Chelle was not surprised with the performance of East Africa region teams in the tournament