Defending champions Senegal opened their African Nations Championship (CHAN) title defense with a tightly fought 1-0 victory over Nigeria in a Group D clash marked by physicality and tactical resilience. Christian Gomis’s clinical 75th-minute strike at Zanzibar’s Amaan Stadium on Tuesday proved decisive, handing the Teranga Lions a hard-fought win in a tournament reserved exclusively for domestic league players across Africa.
Hosted jointly by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, the 2023 CHAN saw Senegal, winners of the 2022 edition in Algeria, navigate a gritty challenge from a Nigeria side making their first appearance in the competition since 2018. The Super Eagles adopted an aggressive stance early, with midfielders Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu earning yellow cards for robust challenges as they sought to disrupt Senegal’s rhythm. Despite a tense first half dominated by heavy tackles and limited clear chances, both teams tested opposing defenses—Senegal’s Marc Diouf denied Sikiru Alimi midway through the half, while Moctar Koïté and Daouda Ba fired long-range efforts at Nigeria’s goal.
The breakthrough arrived via a lightning counterattack. Substitute Koïté, introduced in the second half, raced down the right wing before delivering a precise cross into the box, where Gomis evaded markers to calmly finish with his left foot. “A goal born of precision and timing,” remarked observers, as Senegal’s bench erupted in celebration.
Nigeria responded with urgency, throwing on forwards Vincent Temitope and Godwin Obaje. Temitope nearly leveled the score late with a curling effort that whistled wide, while Alimi and Jabbar Malik threatened from set-pieces. However, Senegal’s defensive duo of Seyni Ndiaye and Joseph Layousse stood firm, aided by tactical substitutions like Bonaventure Fonseca and Pape Badji, who stifled Nigeria’s late momentum. The match’s frenetic closing stages saw seven substitutions, injury stoppages, and a contentious handball call against Nigeria’s Shola Adelani in stoppage time, compounding the Super Eagles’ frustration.
Despite the loss, Nigeria coach Éric Chelle struck an optimistic note, emphasizing the need to “take each game as it comes” ahead of clashes with Congo and Sudan. For Senegal, the result extends their unbeaten run against West African rivals at CHAN and marks their sixth 1-0 victory in the tournament—a testament to their defensive discipline under pressure.
The win propels Senegal to the top of Group D, while Nigeria, seeking redemption, will face Sudan on August 12. With both teams showcasing flashes of attacking intent amid a fiercely contested midfield battle, the match underscored the competitive edge defining Africa’s premier tournament for homegrown talent.
