Nigeria’s return to the African Nations Championship finals since 2018 began on a sobering note, as Super Eagles B succumbed to defending champions Senegal, who clinched a slim 1–0 win at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on August 5, 2025.
The pivotal moment arrived in the 75th minute when Senegal substitute Moctar Koïté sprinted down the right flank and delivered a precise square pass for Christian Gomis, who calmly slotted it past keeper Olorunleke Ojo. Despite Nigeria dominating possession with a 59% share and nearly 400 passes they managed just one shot on target throughout.
The Super Eagles B pressed hard through Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu, both of whom received yellow cards in a fiercely fought first half. Yet Senegal’s disciplined defence, marshalled by Joseph Layousse and Seyni Ndiaye, held firm amid rising Nigerian pressure. The loss leaves Nigeria bottom of Group D, having conceded while Congo and Sudan drew 1–1 earlier.
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Coach Éric Chelle urged calm, stating: “One match done, two more to go; we’ll take each game as it comes.” Super Eagles B now face Sudan next Tuesday, in a must‑win fixture to keep their knockout hopes alive.
Editorial
We appreciate the resolve and tactical ambition Nigeria displayed but football matches are not won on intent alone. While possession and passing stats suggested control, finishing touch and defensive sharpness proved elusive when it mattered most.
This game underscores a core truth: CHAN demands high efficiency not dominance. Each chance counts, and defensive resilience, as shown by Senegal, often decides finals before entertainment begins.
For Super Eagles B, the task now is mental recovery and tactical refinement. Coach Chelle’s reminder to focus on one game at a time feels right. Against Sudan, Nigeria must marry possession with purpose—pressure converts into progression only when ruthlessly executed.
This squad possesses talent and spirit. But CHAN rewards composure under crisis. If Nigeria can balance intensity with maturity, reflect on errors, and trust the process, they may yet salvage a campaign rooted in promise rather than remorse.
Did You Know?
- Nigeria dominated possession with 59%, completed 396 passes, and maintained a 75 percent pass accuracy—but managed only one shot on target.
- Christian Gomis’s winning goal was Senegal’s sixth consecutive 1–0 victory in CHAN history, showcasing the tournament’s tactical conservatism.
- Senegal remain the only West African country to win CHAN twice secured via a 2023 shootout win over Algeria.
- Nduka Junior and Raymond Tochukwu, Nigeria’s midfield backbone, were booked early, reducing their influence in later stages of the match.
- Nigeria last qualified for CHAN in 2018 and secured bronze in 2014, yet have been inconsistent—often exiting in group stages due to narrow margins.
