LIVE! Nigeria vs Senegal in the CAF African Nations Championship
Nigeria and Senegal face off this Tuesday in their Group B opener at CHAN 2024.
The wait is over as the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 delivers one of the most enticing group-stage matchups: Nigeria versus Senegal. Ahead of the game, defender Junior Nduka, one of the team’s leaders, emphasized the motivation drawn from Nigeria’s recent sporting successes.
“To our fellow Nigerians, I know expectations are high because we have been doing well in other sports, and we will do our best not to let them down,” Nduka said during Monday’s press conference in Zanzibar. He recalled the recent triumphs of the women’s national team at the WAFCON and the women’s basketball team’s continental championship.
The Nigeria squad, made up entirely of players from the domestic league, hopes to carry that momentum onto the pitch. However, they will face a formidable opponent in Senegal, renowned for their pace and physical strength.
Chelle Fully Focused on Senegal
Head coach Éric Chelle, a former Mali international now leading Nigeria, made it clear there will be no distractions: “I don’t want to talk about Congo or Sudan right now. Our focus is on the first match, and we’ll take it step by step. We face Senegal first, and then we’ll think about what’s next.”
For Chelle, this is less about rivalry and more about the stature of the encounter: “Senegal has a great generation and a strong team. We have prepared well and want to implement everything we’ve worked on.”
Nigeria will look to impose tactical discipline and capitalize on local talent to counter Senegal’s athleticism, while the Teranga Lions aim to leverage their high tempo and individual quality. The intensity and skill on display promise a thrilling start to Group B.
The match will be played this Tuesday and will be broadcast live on beIN SPORTS, in what could prove to be a pivotal contest for both teams’ hopes in the tournament.
