Defending champions Senegal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against a determined Congo side in their second Group D fixture at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 in Zanzibar.

Dechan Moussavou’s early strike gave Congo a surprise lead, but Joseph Layousse salvaged a point for the Teranga Lions with a second-half equaliser at the Amaan Stadium.

The result leaves Senegal on four points from two matches, with Congo on two, ahead of tonight’s other group clash between Nigeria and Sudan.

Senegal head coach Souleymane Diallo had warned pre-match of a “trap” game, and Congo wasted no time in springing it.

In the 19th minute, Charles Atipo delivered a teasing cross from the right that Moussavou met with a clinical right-footed finish high into the net from close range.

The champions, who had beaten Nigeria 1-0 in their opening match, were rattled by Congo’s physical approach and quick transitions.

Senegal struggled to break through a compact 4-2-3-1 structure, with Venold Dzaba and Gosim Elenga disrupting midfield rhythm.

The first half became increasingly scrappy, punctuated by frequent fouls and stoppages for treatment, breaking up the flow of the game.

Congo goalkeeper Ulrich Samba was well protected, with only Mbaye Yaya Ly’s angled shot in added time coming close to troubling him.

Diallo turns to bench for response

Diallo made changes at the break, introducing Vieux Cissé to add creativity, but Congo continued to threaten on the counter.

Marc Diouf, in Senegal’s goal, was called into action to save Elie Andzouono’s curling shot from outside the box in the 69th minute.

Senegal, however, began to build momentum. Ousseynou Seck’s delivery from set-pieces became a weapon, forcing Congo to defend deeper.

Christian Gomis and Libasse Guèye both went close, with Samba producing sharp saves to preserve Congo’s advantage.

The breakthrough came in the 82nd minute when Seck’s corner caused chaos in the box and Layousse pounced, rifling a right-footed effort into the bottom corner.

The equaliser lifted Senegal, and moments later Seyni Ndiaye missed a close-range header that could have completed the turnaround.

The closing minutes were tense, with both sides sensing an opportunity to snatch victory. Brudet Okana fired over for Congo, while Ababacar Sarr’s late free-kick delivery caused panic but found no final touch.

A flurry of stoppages and yellow cards in added time underlined the intensity of the contest, with neither team able to carve out a decisive chance.

The draw keeps Senegal in a strong position, though Diallo will rue the missed opportunity to secure quarter-final qualification with a game to spare.

Congo, meanwhile, have shown they can trouble the group’s favourites and will take confidence into their remaining fixtures.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Nigeria heads into Tuesday’s high-stakes group encounter against Sudan in Zanzibar with mixed news on the injury front.

Left-back Taiwo Abdulrafiu, who limped off during the previous match against Senegal, has been declared fit to return.

However, first-choice goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena remains sidelined with a knee injury, paving the way for the Under-20 goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt as a possible starter.

“Taiwo Abdulrafiu is okay,” confirmed Nigeria coach Chelle. “However, the reality is that Ani Ozoemena is injured, and we just had to bring Ebenezer in — and I trust him.”

Meanwhile, in Sudan’s camp, coach Kwesi Appiah has been working on a crucial mindset shift, urging his players to embrace the demands of playing away from home.

“Many Sudanese players are most comfortable playing at home — they don’t like travelling,” Appiah said. “I’ve been working to change that mentality, to push them to embrace the challenges of international competition.”

Sudan striker Farres Abdullah exuded confidence ahead of the clash. “We’re ready — physically and mentally,” he declared. “Nigeria is one of the strongest sides in the tournament, but we believe we can go deep in this competition.”

The match, kicking off at 20:00 local time this Tuesday, carries huge implications for the Group standings.

A Sudan victory would put them within reach of the knockout stages, while a Nigerian win would reignite their campaign and keep the group’s fate undecided until the final round.

With both sides knowing the margin for error has evaporated, fans can expect an intense battle from the opening whistle.

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A clash of epic proportions is expected this evening when Nigeria take on Sudan in what is easily a destiny-shaping duel for both teams in the African Nations Championship.

While Nigeria lost their opening match 1-0 to defending champions Senegal, Sudan’s Ghanaian coach, Kwesi Appiah, isn’t fooled into thinking that result tells the whole story.

“One game doesn’t define a team,” he warned.

“Every Nigerian player is dangerous. We must be ready for a physically strong side with serious attacking intent.”

Sudan currently sits third in Group D with one point; Nigeria, bottom with none, knows a loss would almost certainly send them packing. For the Super Eagle B, the encounter is a ‘Do-or-Die’.

This is even underlined by the team’s handler, Eric Chelle, who was blunt about the stakes.

“I just want to win the game,” he said in a pre-match conference. “It’s my game project. I know that it’s a game project that rewards a lot of intensity and aggression. To stay ambitious, we need to win this game against Sudan.”

Chelle admitted that the pressure is immense following the defeat to Senegal: “I know there is pressure on us, and it’s normal.

“We are a big country, a great football nation, and we need to do better in the next game. The reality now is that we are low, but we are together as a unit. If we get the three points after the game, it will breathe more life into the group.”

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