CHAN: Nigeria, Senegal, others battle for top two spots in Group D showdown

The stage is all set for the Group D fixtures of the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship, CHAN.

DAILY POST reports that Group D comprises Nigeria, Senegal, Congo and Sudan.

Nigeria will tackle defending champions, Senegal in their CHAN opener on Tuesday evening, while Congo will take on Sudan.

Recall that the 2024 CHAN started at the weekend and some of the results of the Match-day one have been confirmed.

The 19-team tournament is taking place in five venues in four cities spread across three co-hosting countries namely: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

DAILY POST takes a critical look at Group D (Nigeria, Senegal, Congo and Sudan) as only the top two teams in the group will advance to the knockout stage.

Nigeria –

Nigeria is returning to the competition for the first time since 2018 after missing the last two editions.

They finished third in 2014, exited the competition in the group stage in 2016 and runners-up in 2018 after losing 4-0 to Morocco in the final.

Nigeria, after failing to win their opening matches in the 2014 and 2018 editions, progressed to the semifinals.

The only time Nigeria won their CHAN opener game was a 4-1 win against Niger in 2016, but they were eliminated in the group stage.

Nigeria have averaged 1.67 goals scored per game and have kept five clean sheets: three in 2018 and two in 2014.

They qualified for the 2024 CHAN via WAFU Zone B after playing a 0-0 away draw with Ghana, then won 3-1 at home (3-1 on aggregate).

Senegal –

Senegal are yet to lose in open play to a West African country at CHAN as they have recorded two wins and two draws.

They have also kept three clean sheets in those four matches, with the only goal conceded coming in the third-place playoff against Ghana back in 2009.

Senegal are currently the defending champions of CHAN for the first time after beating Algeria in the final via penalties in 2022.

Their encounter against Nigeria on Tuesday will be their fifth CHAN match against a West African team.

Their past results in these encounters include losses to Mali and Guinea, a draw with Ghana which ended in a penalty loss, and a 4-1 win over Niger.

Senegal qualified via WAFU Zone A after playing a 1-1 away draw to Liberia and won 3-0 at home (4-1 on aggregate).

Congo –

Congo is making their fifth CHAN appearance and fourth in a row.

They were eliminated at the group stage in 2014 and 2022, and also reached the quarterfinals in 2018 and 2020, respectively losing both times on penalties.

All four of their previous opening games ended 1-0: won against Cameroon (2018), lost to Ghana (2014), DRC (2020), and Cameroon (2022).

The 2022 CHAN edition was the first time Congo failed to win a match. They have won five CHAN matches; four were 1-0 victories, and their biggest win was 2-0 over Burkina Faso in 2018.

Sudan –

Sudan is making their fourth CHAN appearance after playing in 2011, 2018, and 2022, respectively.

They reached the semifinals in 2011 and 2018, and exited the competition in the group stage in 2022.

Their best finish was third place on home soil in 2011.

They qualified for the 2024 CHAN through the CECAFA Zone, winning 1-0 at home and losing 1-0 away to Tanzania, before they triumphed 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

Speaking with DAILY POST on Monday, respected Lagos-based journalist, Femi Fabunmi gave his view on Group D.

Fabunmi also suggested the two teams that could advance to the knockout stage from the group.

“When it comes to football in Africa and beyond, Senegal is no mincemeat,” Fabunmi told DAILY POST.

“They always give us [Nigeria] very tough times. It’s going to be a very tough game no doubt but since Super Eagles B have missed out of this tournament for about two editions, they would want to redeem the image of the brand.

“I expect a tough encounter between both giants. I see both teams advancing from the group ahead of the two other teams,” he added.

When asked for his prediction for the Nigeria vs Senegal tie, Fabunmi simply said: “Nigeria to win by a slim margin.”

CHAN: Nigeria, Senegal, others battle for top two spots in Group D showdown