The Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to defending champions Senegal in their opening Group D clash at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), currently being co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Making a long-awaited return to CHAN after a six-year absence, Nigeria were hoping to make a strong statement. However, the match took a disappointing turn late in the second half, allowing Senegal to maintain their unbeaten record in CHAN tournament openers.
The game, played with high physical intensity but few clear-cut chances, was decided in the 75th minute. A lapse in concentration by Nigerian defender Leonard Ngenge gifted Senegal a crucial opening. A seemingly harmless midfield pass bypassed the defensive line, and Christian Gomis capitalized, slotting home into an empty net after his S.M. Koite beat Nigerian goalkeeper Mustapha Lawal with his pin-point assist.
Before the goal, Nigeria had a promising opportunity when Jabbar picked out Qudus Akanni with a well-placed pass. Unfortunately, Akanni’s effort was off target, missing a golden chance to put Nigeria ahead.
Statistically, Super Eagles edged the game in possession with 58% compared to Senegal’s 42%. However, both sides struggled in the final third, managing only one shot on target each. Senegal had seven attempts overall, while Nigeria recorded six.
This match marked the first-ever CHAN meeting between Nigeria and Senegal despite multiple appearances by both nations in the competition. With this victory, Senegal continue their impressive record of never losing an opening match in CHAN history, now having faced 14 different opponents in the competition.
For Nigeria, the loss is a setback but not unfamiliar territory. Historically, whenever the Super Eagles failed to win their CHAN opener such as in 2014 and 2018, they still managed deep runs, finishing with a bronze medal in 2014 and reaching the final in 2018 before losing to Morocco.
While this defeat stings, Nigeria’s CHAN journey is far from over. With a rich history of bouncing back in past tournaments, the Super Eagles will look to regroup and reignite their campaign in the upcoming group stage fixtures.
