FOOTBALL – DEFENDING champions Senegal began their title defence at the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a slender 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a fiercely contested Group D opener at Amaan Stadium last night.
Christian Gomis’ second-half strike was enough to separate the West African giants in a match where both sides created chances but struggled with composure in the final third.
The tournament, exclusively for players competing in their domestic leagues, opened with all the intensity expected from two of Africa’s most storied footballing nations.
Senegal, winners of the 2022 edition in Algeria, started with composure but had to navigate Nigeria’s early aggression.
The Super Eagles, returning to the CHAN finals for the first time since 2018, looked to press high and control midfield through Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu, both of whom picked up early bookings as tackles flew in.
Despite a tense first half filled with heavy challenges and limited goalmouth action, both sides hinted at their attacking intent.
Sikiru Alimi forced a save from Senegalese keeper Marc Diouf midway through the opening half, while Daouda Ba and Moctar Koïté tested Nigeria’s backline from range.
The breakthrough came in the 75th minute following a swift Senegalese counter-attack. Substitute Moctar Koïté darted down the right flank and delivered a pinpoint pass into the box, where Gomis arrived unmarked to calmly slot home with his left foot.
It was a goal born of precision and timing, and it sent the defending champions into raptures.
Nigeria responded with urgency, introducing Vincent Temitope and Godwin Obaje to bolster their attack. Temitope came close with a late shot that sailed just wide, while Alimi and Jabbar Malik threatened from set pieces.
But Senegal’s backline, led by Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse, held firm under growing pressure.
The match saw seven substitutions and multiple injury stoppages in the second half, adding to the tension as the clock ticked down.
Senegal’s tactical changes, including the introduction of Bonaventure Fonseca and Pape Badji, helped slow Nigeria’s momentum and see out the result.
Earlier, Congo and Sudan played out a tense 1-1 draw in the opening Group D fixture at the Amaan Stadium, with both sides settling for a point in their pursuit of knockout stage qualification.
The biennial competition saw its first-ever meeting between Congo and Sudan deliver drama, intensity, and late heroics in front of a lively crowd in Zanzibar.
Musa Hussien gave Sudan the lead in the 29th minute, before Carly Ekongo’s 86th-minute strike ensured Congo began their fifth CHAN campaign without defeat.
It was Sudan who looked the more purposeful in the early exchanges, testing Congo goalkeeper Ulrich Samba with a barrage of set-pieces and half-chances.
Salah Adil headed wide from close range in the 10th minute, while Abdel Raouf Yagoub pulled the strings from midfield.
The opening goal came on the half-hour mark after sustained pressure from the Sudanese.
A double effort from Hussien – his first blocked by Samba – saw the striker pounce on the rebound and calmly slot the ball into the bottom corner from close range, putting Sudan 1-0 up.
Congo responded through Chadrac Osseby and Charles Atipo, both coming close before the break. However, the Red Devils struggled to find rhythm in the first half, trailing 1-0 at the interval.
Head coach Barthélemy Ngatsono rang the changes in the second half, introducing Carly Ekongo, Grace Mavoungou and Grace Nsemi in a triple substitution on the hour mark. The fresh legs helped Congo wrest back control.
Sudan continued to look dangerous on the counter and came agonisingly close to doubling their lead in the 90+2 minute when Mazin Simbo’s header was brilliantly saved by Samba, keeping Congo in the contest.
That stop proved crucial. Just four minutes later, Congo drew level. After sustained pressure and a quick exchange in the Sudanese box, Ekongo latched onto a loose ball and smashed home a low finish from close range, sending the Congolese bench into wild celebration.
The match ended with tension and physicality, as stoppage time stretched to ten minutes, with both sides pushing for a winner and tempers occasionally flaring.
Ulrich Samba once again came to Congo’s rescue, denying Simbo late on with a fine save.
&uuid=(email))