Nigeria’s Super Eagles B face Senegal in 2025 CHAN opener

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles B kicked off their 2025 African Nations Championship– CHAN campaign against defending champions Senegal today, August 5, 2025, at the 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar City. The Group D clash, which began at 6:00 PM WAT, marked the first-ever CHAN meeting between the two West African powerhouses.

The Super Eagles B, led by head coach Eric Sekou Chelle, aimed to make a statement in their return to the tournament after missing the 2020 and 2022 editions. Nigeria, bronze medalists in 2014 and runners-up in 2018, relied on a mix of experienced players like Sikiru Alimi, Ozoemena Ani, and Junior Nduka, alongside emerging talents such as Leonard Ngenge and Shola Adelani. The team adopted a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with Alimi and Anthony Ijoma leading the attack.

Senegal, the 2022 CHAN champions, entered the match under coach Souleymane Diallo, looking to defend their title. Despite a late setback with the injury withdrawal of goalkeeper Idris Ndiaye, replaced by Cheikh Lô Ndoye, the Teranga Lions fielded a promising squad featuring Ababacar Sarr, Libasse Gueye, and Serigne Moctar Koïta. Senegal’s strong record against West African teams, with no open-play losses in four previous CHAN matches, made them favorites.

The match, broadcast live on SuperSport in Nigeria, RTS in Senegal, and beIN Sports globally, was a high-stakes opener for both sides. Nigeria’s preparation included two draws against Zanzibar, while Senegal suffered 2-1 losses to Uganda and Tanzania in pre-tournament friendlies, raising questions about their form.

Historically, Nigeria holds a favorable record against Senegal, unbeaten in their last four encounters across all competitions, though this was their first CHAN clash. Betting odds suggested a tight contest, with Senegal at 34%, Nigeria at 33%, and a draw at 33%.

Coach Chelle emphasized his team’s readiness, stating, “This is the great game. Senegal has a big team, but we are ready to play what we worked on in the past four weeks.” Senegal’s Diallo, meanwhile, expressed confidence, saying, “We’re not here to defend the title, but to seek another.”

With Group D also featuring Congo and Sudan, both teams knew early points were crucial. The match promised intense competition, with Nigeria aiming to reclaim their CHAN glory and Senegal determined to assert their dominance as reigning champions.