Sloppy start as CHAN Eagles lose 1-0 to Senegal

By Mark Ogagan

The CHAN Eagles of Nigeria began their campaign with a 1-0 loss to defending champions, Senegal in a fiercely-contested Group D game in Zanzibar on Tuesday.

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.

Teranga Lions, winners of the 2022 edition in Algeria, stood their ground against a Super Eagles side returning to the CHAN finals for the first time since 2018.

Nigeria’s frustrations boiled over in stoppage time, with Shola Adelani penalised for handball and the team unable to find a late equaliser.

Despite their defeat, Nigeria coach Éric Chelle remained hopeful, stressing the need to “take each game as it comes” with clashes against Congo and Sudan still to follow.

For Senegal, the win extends their unbeaten run against West African sides at CHAN and marks their sixth 1-0 win in the competition’s history—highlighting their defensive resilience.