In a tightly contested Group D opener at Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, August 5, defending champions Senegal began their title defense with a narrow 1-0 victory over Nigeria at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024.
Christian Gomis’ second-half strike proved decisive in a match where both West African heavyweights created chances but lacked composure in the final third.
The tournament, reserved for players competing in their domestic leagues, kicked off with the intensity expected from two of Africa’s most storied footballing nations. Senegal, winners of the 2022 edition in Algeria, started with poise but had to withstand Nigeria’s early pressure.
The Super Eagles, making their return to the CHAN finals for the first time since 2018, pressed high and sought midfield control through Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu—both of whom received early bookings amid a flurry of tackles.
Despite a physical first half with limited goalmouth action, both sides showed attacking intent. Sikiru Alimi forced a save from Senegalese goalkeeper Marc Diouf, while Daouda Ba and Moctar Koïté tested Nigeria’s defense from distance.
The breakthrough came in the 75th minute via a swift Senegalese counter-attack. Substitute Koïté surged down the right flank and delivered a precise cross into the box, where Gomis arrived unmarked to calmly finish with his left foot—a goal crafted with precision and perfect timing.
Nigeria responded with urgency, introducing Vincent Temitope and Godwin Obaje to reinforce their attack. Temitope came close with a late effort that drifted just wide, while Alimi and Jabbar Malik posed threats from set pieces.
Senegal’s defense, marshaled by Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse, held firm under mounting pressure. The second half saw seven substitutions and multiple injury stoppages, heightening the tension as time ran out.
Tactical changes by Senegal, including the introduction of Bonaventure Fonseca and Pape Badji, helped disrupt Nigeria’s rhythm and preserve the lead. Nigeria’s frustrations peaked in stoppage time when Shola Adelani was penalized for handball, and the team failed to find an equalizer.
Despite the setback, Nigeria’s head coach Éric Chelle remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of approaching each game with focus as fixtures against Congo and Sudan await.
For Senegal, the win extends their unbeaten run against West African opponents at CHAN and marks their sixth 1-0 victory in the competition’s history—underscoring their defensive discipline.
Coach Souleymane Diallo had stated pre-match that his team felt no pressure defending their title. After this gritty performance, his players have backed up those words with action.
Senegal now tops Group D, while Nigeria will look to regroup in their next outing. If this opening clash is any indication, the road to the quarter-finals promises to be anything but straightforward.
Culled from CAFonline.com