Senegal began their 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a confident 1-0 win over Nigeria, marking a strong start to their title defense in Tuesday night’s Group D opener at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
The breakthrough came in the 74th minute. Libasse Gueye drove the ball through midfield before picking out Serigne Moctar Koité, whose sharp through-ball sliced open Nigeria’s backline. Christian Gomis latched onto the pass and finished calmly, sealing the win for the defending champions.
This was the first time Senegal and Nigeria had ever faced off in a CHAN fixture. The result maintained Senegal’s impressive run of winning every opening match in their CHAN history, now extended to four consecutive tournaments.
What went wrong for Nigeria in the CHAN opener?
Despite having 59% possession and 11 shots, Nigeria struggled to make their control count. Only five of their efforts were on target, while six went wide. The Super Eagles couldn’t break through Senegal’s well-organized defense and lacked composure in the final third.
Their frustration spilled over late in the match as three players received yellow cards, highlighting the tension that boiled over in the final minutes. Nigeria, CHAN semifinalists in 2014 and 2018, now sit at the bottom of Group D and will need a win in their next game to stay in the running for a knockout spot.
What’s next in CHAN 2024 Group D?
Earlier in the day, Congo and Sudan played to a 1-1 draw. Sudan’s Musa Ali Hussein scored in the 29th minute, but Congo’s Carly Ekongo Landou leveled in the 86th, leaving both teams with one point each. With Senegal leading the group, Nigeria faces increasing pressure as the group stage continues.
The tournament resumes on August 6 with Group B fixtures. Burkina Faso face the Central African Republic at 17:00 EAT, followed by hosts Tanzania taking on Mauritania at 20:00 EAT in Dar es Salaam’s Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium. Tanzania currently tops Group B and will be looking to maintain momentum.
By Yockshard Enyendi