MATCH FACTS: West African heavyweights collide as Senegal take on Nigeria

Senegal begin the defence of their TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) title with a highly anticipated clash against regional rivals Nigeria. Despite their prominence in African football, this will be the first CHAN meeting between the two nations.

This will be Senegal’s 15th CHAN match, with Nigeria becoming the 14th different opponent they have faced (having only met Côte d’Ivoire twice). Nigeria will be playing their 16th game at the finals, with Senegal becoming the 15th team they have faced—Morocco is the only opponent they have met more than once.

Senegal have played four previous matches against West African opposition at CHAN, including a goalless draw with Côte d’Ivoire and a 1-1 draw with Ghana (which they lost on penalties) in 2009. In the 2022 edition, they defeated Côte d’Ivoire and Mauritania 1-0 in the group stage and quarterfinals respectively.

Senegal are yet to lose in open play to a West African rival at CHAN (W2 D2). They’ve kept three clean sheets in those four matches, with the only goal conceded coming in the third-place playoff against Ghana in 2009.

Nigeria are facing the defending champions at CHAN for the first time. This is also their fifth CHAN match against a West African team. Their past results in these encounters include losses to Mali and Guinea, a draw with Ghana (followed by a penalty loss), and a 4-1 victory over Niger.

Senegal – Key Facts

• Defending champions; this is their fourth CHAN appearance (2009, 2011, 2022).

• Finished fourth in 2009, exited in the group stage in 2011, and won the title in 2022 (beating Algeria in the final on penalties).

• Won all three of their opening group games: vs Tanzania (1-0 in 2009), Rwanda (2-0 in 2011), and Côte d’Ivoire (1-0 in 2022).

• Conceded only one goal and kept five clean sheets en route to the 2022 title.

• Have won six CHAN games; five of those wins were by a 1-0 scoreline.

• Their largest victory was a 3-0 win over DR Congo in their final 2022 group match.

• Have recorded 10 clean sheets in 14 CHAN matches, including clean sheets in their last four games in 2022.

• Defending champions' record in opening games at the next tournament: played 2, won 1, lost 1 (DRC lost 2-0 to Cameroon in 2011; Morocco beat Togo 1-0 in 2020).

• Looking to become only the second team after Morocco to retain the title.

• Alongside DRC, Morocco, and Tunisia, Senegal are one of four countries to have won both AFCON and CHAN.

• Qualified via WAFU Zone A: drew 1-1 away to Liberia and won 3-0 at home (4-1 on aggregate).

Nigeria – Key Facts

• Returning to the finals for the first time since 2018, after missing the last two editions.

• Finished third in 2014 and runners-up in 2018 (lost 4-0 to Morocco in the final); exited in the group stage in 2016.

• Opening game record at CHAN: played 3, won 1, drew 1, lost 1.

• When failing to win their opening match (2014 and 2018), they progressed to at least the semifinals.

• The only time they won their opener (4-1 vs Niger in 2016), they were eliminated in the group stage.

• Biggest win: 4-1 vs Niger (2016); biggest loss: 4-0 vs Morocco (2018 final).

• Involved in three draws at CHAN: two goalless, one 1-1.

• Have won 9 matches—all in open play; open-play losses were vs Mali (2014), Guinea (2016), and Morocco (2018 final).

• Highest scoring match: 4-3 win over Morocco (2014 quarterfinals, after extra time).

• Scored four goals in a match three times: vs Mozambique (4-2, 2014), Morocco (4-3, 2014), and Niger (4-1, 2016).

• Scored in 11 of 15 CHAN matches; total goals scored: 25, goals conceded: 17.

• CHAN games have averaged 2.8 goals per match; Nigeria have averaged 1.67 goals scored per game.

• Have kept five clean sheets: three in 2018, two in 2014.

• Conceded in each of their first six group games before keeping clean sheets in the first two matches of 2018 (0-0 vs Rwanda, 1-0 vs Libya).

• Qualified via WAFU Zone B: drew 0-0 away to Ghana, then won 3-1 at home (3-1 on aggregate).