Heartbreak in Zanzibar: Senegal stun Super Eagles in CHAN opener

By Ijeoma Okigbo

Defending champions Senegal began their African Nations Championship (CHAN) title defence with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a tense Group D opener on Tuesday.

In a tightly contested encounter at Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar, Christian Gomis’ 75th-minute strike proved decisive, handing the Teranga Lions a valuable three points against a determined Super Eagles side.

The CHAN tournament, co-hosted this year by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, is exclusively for players active in their domestic leagues, making Tuesday’s clash a showcase of West African homegrown talent.

Senegal, champions of the 2022 edition in Algeria, entered the match with confidence and composure, while Nigeria, making their first CHAN finals appearance since 2018, opted for a high-pressing strategy led by midfielders Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu.

Both players picked up early yellow cards in a combative first half filled with physical duels and limited clear-cut chances.

Sikiru Alimi came closest for Nigeria in the first half, forcing Senegalese goalkeeper Marc Diouf into a sharp save, while Senegal’s Daouda Ba and Moctar Koïté tested the Nigerian defence with speculative efforts from distance.

The breakthrough came midway through the second half. Substitute Moctar Koïté broke down the right wing and delivered a perfectly weighted pass across the box, where Gomis timed his run to perfection and calmly finished with his left foot—sealing a moment of brilliance in an otherwise gritty affair.

Nigeria pushed forward in search of an equaliser, bringing on Vincent Temitope and Godwin Obaje to inject pace and energy into their attack.

Temitope narrowly missed the target with a late shot, while Alimi and Jabbar Malik threatened from set-pieces. But Senegal’s backline, marshalled by Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse, stood firm.

The second half was marked by multiple substitutions, injury stoppages, and rising tension as both sides battled for control. Tactical changes by Senegal, including the introduction of Bonaventure Fonseca and Pape Badji, helped neutralise Nigeria’s late surge.

Frustrations mounted for the Super Eagles in stoppage time when Shola Adelani was penalised for handball, dashing hopes of a last-gasp equaliser.

Despite the narrow loss, Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Chelle, remained optimistic, noting that the team would regroup ahead of their remaining Group D fixtures against Congo and Sudan.

Senegal’s victory extends their unbeaten CHAN run against West African opponents and marks their sixth 1–0 win in the competition’s history, underscoring their trademark defensive discipline.

With the result, Senegal top Group D, while Nigeria will look to revive their campaign when they face Sudan on August 12. (NAN)