The defending champions, Senegal, commenced their 2024 African Nations Championship campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a tightly contested Group D opener held in Zanzibar. The match, a clash between two of Africa’s footballing powerhouses, was characterized by intense physicality, tactical discipline, and sporadic bursts of attacking flair. Christian Gomis emerged as the hero for the Teranga Lions, netting the decisive goal in the 75th minute to secure the crucial three points. This victory not only extended Senegal’s unbeaten streak against West African rivals in the CHAN competition but also solidified their reputation for defensive solidity, marking their sixth 1-0 win in the tournament’s history.
The match unfolded as a tactical battle from the outset, with both sides displaying a commitment to winning the midfield. Nigeria, returning to the CHAN finals after a six-year hiatus, started aggressively, pressing high up the pitch through midfielders Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu. However, their early enthusiasm was tempered by a flurry of yellow cards as tackles flew in. Senegal, on the other hand, absorbed the initial pressure and gradually asserted their control on the game, exhibiting composure in possession and effectively nullifying Nigeria’s attacking forays.
The first half remained a cagey affair, with clear-cut chances proving scarce. While Sikiru Alimi forced a decent save from Senegalese goalkeeper Marc Diouf, Daouda Ba and Moctar Koïté tested the Nigerian defence with long-range efforts. The deadlock finally broke in the 75th minute when Koïté, after a surging run down the right flank, delivered a pinpoint low cross into the box. Gomis, demonstrating excellent anticipation and timing, expertly slotted the ball home with his left foot, sending the Senegalese bench into raptures.
Nigeria, stung by the concession of the goal, responded by introducing Vincent Temitope and Godwin Obaje to bolster their attacking options. Their efforts almost bore fruit in the closing stages as Temitope came close to equalizing, only for his shot to drift narrowly wide of the target. Jabbar Malik and Alimi also threatened from set-pieces, but the Senegalese defence, marshalled by the experienced duo of Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse, stood firm, repelling the Nigerian onslaught with resilience and composure.
The second half was further punctuated by a series of substitutions and injury stoppages, disrupting the flow of the game and adding to the already palpable tension. As the clock ticked down, frustration mounted for Nigeria, culminating in a handball by Shola Adelani in added time. Despite the defeat, Nigerian head coach Éric Chelle remained upbeat, emphasizing the importance of taking each game as it comes as they prepare for upcoming fixtures against Congo and Sudan.
Senegal’s victory propelled them to the top of Group D, while Nigeria found themselves at the bottom of the table following a 1-1 draw between Sudan and Congo in the other group match. Senegal’s head coach, Souleymane Diallo, who had downplayed the pressure of defending their title in the pre-match build-up, would have been pleased with his team’s professional and determined performance. Nigeria now look ahead to their next group stage encounter against Sudan, scheduled for the following Tuesday at the Amaan Stadium, seeking to revive their campaign and secure their first points of the tournament. This opening match clearly set the tone for a competitive Group D, with all teams still firmly in contention for qualification to the knockout stages.
