Match preview: Nigeria vs Senegal
The wait is over, and the stage is set. After months of anticipation and postponements, the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) is finally underway.
This year’s edition, known as Pamoja 2024, is unique for being co-hosted by three East African nations — Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda — for the very first time.
And on Tuesday, Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles will launch their Group D campaign against title-holders Senegal at the 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City.
The CHAN, unlike the Africa Cup of Nations, is restricted solely to players plying their trade in their domestic leagues. For Nigeria and Senegal, this is their fourth appearance in the competition — but while Senegal arrive as defending champions, Nigeria are returning to the tournament after a disappointing absence in 2020 and 2022.
Historically, the Super Eagles B have produced mixed results in this tournament: bronze medallists in 2014, group-stage exit in 2016, and runners-up in 2018, losing to hosts Morocco in the final.
Under the guidance of head coach Eric Sekou Chelle, who also manages the senior national team, the current squad will be desperate to mount a serious title charge and make amends for missing the last two editions.
Chelle has enjoyed early success with Nigeria’s A team including a Unity Cup triumph in London and he has also led the B side to promising results in friendly games both in Nigeria and Zanzibar.
However, Senegal present the toughest test yet.
Head-to-head
Despite their reputations as continental powerhouses, Nigeria and Senegal have never locked horns at the CHAN.
In an odd twist of fate, both sides have continually missed each other due to alternating qualification patterns.
While Nigeria made it to the final tournament in 2014, 2016, and 2018, Senegal failed to qualify for those editions. Conversely, when the Teranga Lions featured in 2009, 2011, and 2022, Nigeria fell at the qualifying hurdles.
Tuesday’s clash will therefore be their first-ever meeting at CHAN level — a tantalising prospect with high stakes and a shot at early group dominance.
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Team news
Nigeria head into the match with a strong 24-man squad selected from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Chelle, assisted by Daniel Ogunmodede and Fidelis Ilechukwu, has moulded a team that blends raw talent with experience.
Familiar faces like Sikiru Alimi, goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, defender Junior Nduka, and midfielder Michael Tochukwu offer tournament know-how, while fresh talents like Leonard Ngenge, Adedayo Olamilekan, and Shola Adelani bring energy and flair.
The Super Eagles B have had steady build-up matches, including a double-header against Zanzibar that ended in draws. The team will likely adopt a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with Ani between the sticks, Ismail and Abdulrafiu operating as full-backs, and Alimi and Anthony Ijoma leading the line.
For Senegal, preparations hit a snag with the injury withdrawal of their first-choice goalkeeper Idris Ndiaye, who picked up a knock during the Senegal Cup final. Coach Souleymane Diallo has since called up Cheikh Lô Ndoye as a late replacement, which could unsettle the defensive setup just days before their opener.
Still, the reigning champions boast depth and technical efficiency, and will rightly begin as favourites. Their mission is clear: retain their crown and show they remain the dominant force in homegrown African football.
Match details
- Fixture: Nigeria vs Senegal
- Tournament: TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024
- Stage: Group D, Matchday 1
- Venue: Amaan Stadium, Zanzibar City
- Date: Tuesday, August 5
- Time: 8:00 PM (local time)
What to expect
With just four teams in Group D — Senegal, Nigeria, Congo, and Sudan — every match carries significant weight. A positive result in the opener could set the tone for either side’s qualification to the knockout stages.
Nigeria will rely heavily on midfield organisation, quick transitions, and set-piece delivery from Nduka and Tochukwu. Alimi’s movement in the box and Ijoma’s hold-up play could prove decisive if Senegal’s backline, potentially destabilised by Ndiaye’s absence, shows any signs of vulnerability.
For Senegal, cohesion and tournament pedigree will be key. Their experience in navigating the tactical rigours of CHAN football gives them a slight edge, but Chelle’s Eagles have shown enough resilience and tactical maturity to challenge the champions.
With the eyes of a football-crazed nation watching, Nigeria’s home-based stars have a golden opportunity to announce themselves, and what better way to do that than by grounding the champions?