Senegal’s head coach Souleymane Diallo has credited his team’s unity, discipline, and tactical intelligence for their hard-fought 1-0 win over Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles in their opening Group B fixture at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Zanzibar.
The victory, secured by a late strike from Christian Gomis, marked a perfect start to Senegal’s title defence and extended their impressive run of form in the competition.
The match, played at the Amman Stadium on Tuesday night, was a tightly contested affair with few clear-cut chances. However, Senegal’s organisation and game management proved decisive, particularly in the final 20 minutes when they pushed forward with greater intensity.
Speaking after the match, Diallo was full of praise for his players’ execution of the game plan.
“It was team solidarity,” he said. “We played like a team—high press, counter-press, compact blocks. The players showed character and intelligence.”
The Lions of Teranga, who lifted their first CHAN title in Algeria last year, showed why they are considered favourites to retain the crown. Their pressing game unsettled the Nigerian midfield, while their disciplined defensive line limited Nigeria’s attacking threat throughout the game.
Diallo revealed that the victory was the product of extensive preparation, particularly in fine-tuning their tactical shape and adaptability against different styles of play.
“We’ve worked on our shape for two months,” Diallo told CAF’s official website. “Our midfielders controlled the pace, and our wingers exploited the flanks. It paid off today.”
Indeed, Senegal’s midfield trio dictated the tempo, suffocating Nigeria’s rhythm and forcing turnovers in key areas. The wide men provided constant width and penetration, stretching Nigeria’s backline and creating space for forward runs.
The only goal of the match came in the 75th minute when a well-worked move down the right flank ended with a pinpoint cross into the box. Gomis, timing his run perfectly, guided his header past the Nigerian goalkeeper to seal the win.
While Nigeria showed flashes of promise in the opening half, they struggled to maintain control under pressure. Senegal’s compact structure forced the Eagles into speculative efforts and limited their ability to build sustained attacks.
Super Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf made tactical changes in the second half in a bid to inject more creativity, but Senegal’s defensive shape held firm.
The result leaves Nigeria in a difficult position, needing to win their remaining two group games to stand a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-finals. Coach Yusuf admitted that his side must improve in all areas.
“We have to play with more urgency and focus. The tournament has just started, and we can still turn things around,” he said post-match.
Meanwhile, Diallo expressed caution, despite the win.
“It’s a good start, but we’re taking it one game at a time. There’s still a long way to go in this tournament,” he said.
Senegal will next face Angola, who drew with DR Congo in their opening match, while Nigeria take on the Congolese side in a must-win game.
For now, however, the spotlight remains on Senegal’s tactical superiority and the calm leadership of Diallo, whose meticulous preparation continues to deliver results at the highest level of African football.
With their title defence off to a strong start, the Lions of Teranga have once again shown why they are a force to be reckoned with on the continent.
