Nigeria and Senegal are set to clash for the first time in the history of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as the Super Eagles B open their Group D campaign against the defending champions at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
For Nigeria, this marks a long-awaited return to the tournament after missing the last two editions. Senegal, on the other hand, are embarking on a title defence that could see them become only the second team after Morocco to retain the CHAN title.
Senegal won their maiden CHAN title in 2022, edging hosts Algeria in a tense penalty shootout after a goalless final. The Teranga Lions arrive at this eighth edition of the tournament — co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda — with an impressive 10-match unbeaten run in regulation time against fellow West African sides. That streak includes key victories over Ivory Coast and Mauritania during their 2022 title run.
Renowned for their defensive organisation, Senegal have kept 10 clean sheets in 14 CHAN appearances since their debut. They’ve secured five 1–0 victories during that span and conceded just twice in their last seven games at the tournament. Their only group-stage defeat in the competition came in 2011 against Rwanda. Since then, they’ve started their campaigns strongly, registering 1–0 wins over Tanzania in 2009 and Ivory Coast in 2022.
Nigeria, by contrast, are known for their attacking flair in CHAN history. The Super Eagles B have scored 25 goals in just 15 games, averaging 1.67 goals per match. They secured a third-place finish in 2014 and reached the final in 2018, where they lost to hosts Morocco.
Their strongest group-stage showing came in 2014 when they bounced back from an opening loss to Mali to defeat Mozambique 4–2 and South Africa 3–1 en route to the semi-finals. Their most dominant win remains a 4–1 thrashing of Niger in 2016, though they failed to progress past the group stage that year.
Still, Nigeria’s record in tournament openers remains shaky. In four appearances, they’ve only won their first match once — a 2–0 victory over Tunisia in 2018. They’ve drawn one and lost two others. Interestingly, in both editions where Nigeria failed to win their opening match but advanced past the group stage, they went on to reach the semi-finals or further.
Both teams qualified through the WAFU Zone B qualifiers. Senegal cruised past Liberia 4–1 on aggregate, while Nigeria edged Ghana 3–1 over two legs following a goalless draw in Cape Coast.
Statistically, Nigeria’s CHAN matches tend to be high-scoring, with an average of 2.8 goals per game, compared to Senegal’s more defensive style, averaging under 1.5 goals. This sets the stage for a clash of styles on Tuesday — Nigeria expected to control possession and attack with fluidity, while Senegal aim to stay compact, frustrate their opponents, and strike on the counter.
The game also holds historical significance. It will be Nigeria’s first meeting with a reigning CHAN champion since the 2018 final — a painful 4–0 loss to Morocco. A strong performance against Senegal would not only mark a promising return to CHAN but could also signal a power shift in West African football.
Senegal, meanwhile, are determined to extend their unbeaten streak in regulation time to 11 games and continue asserting their dominance in African football.
