The countdown is over as Group D action in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) begins, with powerhouse teams including Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, and Sudan preparing for a high-stakes battle to claim the top two spots that lead to the tournament’s knockout phase.
According to LMSINT MEDIA, Group D promises to be one of the most competitive and unpredictable, as it features teams with rich CHAN history and continental pedigree.
Nigeria kicks off their tournament campaign against defending champions Senegal on Tuesday evening, while the other fixture in the group will see Congo face off against Sudan in what is expected to be a tightly contested encounter.
As a recap, the 2024 CHAN commenced over the weekend, and some Matchday 1 outcomes have already been recorded. This year’s tournament includes 19 national teams and is hosted across five stadiums in four cities spread throughout the co-hosting nations of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
In this in-depth Group D spotlight by LMSINT MEDIA, we analyze the strengths, past performances, and qualification routes of each team — as only the top two teams will progress to the knockout stage.
Nigeria – Seeking Redemption After Long Absence
Nigeria returns to CHAN action for the first time since 2018, having missed the previous two editions. Historically, the Super Eagles B finished third in 2014, exited at the group stage in 2016, and were runners-up in 2018 after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Morocco in the final.
Interestingly, Nigeria’s history of CHAN openers hasn’t been impressive. They failed to win their opening games in both 2014 and 2018, but still managed to reach the semifinals in both tournaments. Their only CHAN opener win was a 4-1 victory over Niger in 2016, although they didn’t progress past the group stage that year.
Statistically, Nigeria averages 1.67 goals per game in the competition and has maintained five clean sheets — three in 2018 and two in 2014. For the 2024 edition, they secured their ticket through the WAFU Zone B qualifiers, drawing 0-0 away to Ghana and winning 3-1 at home, making it 3-1 on aggregate.
Senegal – Defending Champions Eyeing Another Title
Senegal comes into CHAN 2024 as the reigning champions, having won the 2022 edition by defeating Algeria on penalties. The Teranga Lions boast an unbeaten record in regulation time against fellow West African sides, with two wins and two draws, and have only conceded once — in the 2009 third-place playoff against Ghana.
Their matchup with Nigeria on Tuesday will mark Senegal’s fifth CHAN tie against a West African team. Previous matchups include losses to Mali and Guinea, a draw with Ghana which ended in a penalty shootout defeat, and a 4-1 triumph over Niger.
Senegal qualified via WAFU Zone A, drawing 1-1 away to Liberia before securing a dominant 3-0 win at home, winning 4-1 on aggregate.
Congo – Struggling for Consistency
Congo makes their fifth overall appearance in CHAN and fourth in a row. They’ve experienced mixed fortunes — exiting in the group stage in 2014 and 2022, and reaching the quarterfinals in 2018 and 2020, but losing both via penalties.
Remarkably, all their previous CHAN openers ended with 1-0 scorelines: they beat Cameroon in 2018, but lost to Ghana (2014), DR Congo (2020), and again to Cameroon (2022).
Sudan – Aiming to Reclaim Past Glory
Sudan enters the tournament for the fourth time, having previously competed in 2011, 2018, and 2022. Their best finish came in 2011 on home soil, where they secured third place. In 2018, they made it to the semifinals, while in 2022, they bowed out during the group stage.
Expert Prediction – Nigeria and Senegal Tipped to Advance
In an exclusive chat with LMSINT MEDIA on Monday, renowned Lagos-based journalist Femi Fabunmi shared his analysis of Group D. He named the teams he believes will advance to the knockout rounds.
“When it comes to African football, Senegal is not to be taken lightly,” said Fabunmi. “They always challenge us [Nigeria] fiercely. It’s definitely going to be a tight and competitive match.”
Speaking about Nigeria’s chances, Fabunmi added: “Since the Super Eagles B have missed out on the last two editions, there’s a sense of urgency and pride on the line. I expect them to come out fighting.”
Predicting the group’s outcome, he said, “I see both Nigeria and Senegal making it through to the next round ahead of Congo and Sudan.”
On his score prediction for the Nigeria vs Senegal clash, Fabunmi concluded: “Nigeria to edge it by a narrow margin.”
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