Senegal clip stubborn Nigeria to launch CHAN title defense on a high
TOPSHOT - Senegal's midfielder #15 Krepin Diatta (L) fights for the ball with Ivory Coast's forward #15 Max-Alain Gradel during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 round of 16 football match between Senegal and Ivory Coast at the Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro on January 29, 2024. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)
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Defending champions Senegal opened their 2024 African
Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over
Nigeria in their Group D opener on Tuesday night at Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar.
The decisive moment came in the 74th minute when Christian
Gomis calmly slotted home after a swift counterattack.
Libasse Gueye initiated the move from midfield, finding
Serigne Moctar Koité, who’s perfectly timed through-ball released Gomis.
This was the first-ever CHAN meeting between the two
nations. Senegal, champions in 2022, maintained their perfect record of winning
every opening CHAN fixture — now four in a row.
Nigeria,
semifinalists in 2014 and 2018, failed to break down a disciplined Senegalese defense
despite enjoying more possession (59%) and registering 11 goal attempts, six of
which were off target.
The Super Eagles’ wastefulness and indiscipline proved
costly, as they collected three yellow cards in a match that saw tempers flare
in the closing stages.
In the other Group D fixture earlier in the day, Congo and
Sudan played out a 1-1 draw. Musa Ali Hussein opened the scoring for Sudan in
the 29th minute, but Carly Ekongo Landou equalised for Congo in the 86th minute
to ensure the points were shared.
The result leaves Senegal top of Group D with three points,
while Nigeria sit bottom and will need a positive outcome in their next fixture
to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Senegal’s victory underlined their knack for performing
under pressure. Despite recording fewer attacks and less possession, their
clinical edge and defensive discipline proved decisive.
Nigeria, meanwhile, will rue missed chances and must sharpen
their finishing ahead of their next match.
CHAN action continues tomorrow, August 6, with Matchday 2
fixtures. Burkina Faso take on the Central African Republic at 17:00 EAT,
before hosts Tanzania face Mauritania at 20:00 EAT at the Benjamin Mkapa
National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
These games could prove pivotal in shaping the early
standings, particularly for Tanzania, who currently lead Group B
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