Just days after Nigeria’s women’s team, the Super Falcons, won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, the men’s home-based team, known as Super Eagles B, are now set to begin their own journey for continental success.
On Tuesday, Nigeria will face defending champions Senegal in their opening Group D match of the 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN), a competition strictly for players who play in their country’s domestic leagues.
Nigeria has had mixed results in the tournament since it began in 2009. The team failed to qualify for the first two editions in 2009 and 2011, but went on to win bronze in 2014 under the late coach Stephen Keshi. In that memorable run, the team came from 3-0 down to beat Morocco in the quarter-finals.
They failed to progress past the group stage in 2016, then reached the final in 2018 before losing to hosts Morocco. However, Nigeria missed out on the last two editions, failing to qualify for the 2021 CHAN in Cameroon and the 2023 edition in Algeria.
This year’s competition, called Pamoja 2024, is being hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda – the first time three countries are co-hosting an African football event. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is also using the tournament to test preparations ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which the three countries will host.
The tournament features 19 countries split into four groups. Group D, where Nigeria is placed, has only four teams: Nigeria, Senegal, Congo, and Sudan.
Super Eagles B coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, who also manages the senior team, believes his 23-man squad is ready to compete. The team spent three weeks in camp at Ikenne-Remo and another 10 days in Zanzibar, where they played two friendly matches against the Zanzibar national team – both ending in draws.
Many of the players who helped Nigeria beat Ghana 3-0 on aggregate in the qualifiers are still in the team. They include goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, defenders Sodiq Ismaila and Junior Nduka, midfielder Alex Oyowah, and strikers Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi.
The squad also features new additions like defenders Steven Mayo and Leonard Ngenge; midfielders Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna, and Michael Tochukwu; and forwards Temitope Vincent, Shola Adelani, and Godwin Obaje.
Coach Chelle is aiming for a strong start when his side face Senegal on Tuesday at the 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium, hoping for a win to boost confidence before matches against Sudan and Congo.
Meanwhile, joint-host Tanzania won the opening match of the tournament on Saturday, beating Burkina Faso 2-0 in a Group B clash at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Groupings:
- Group A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia
- Group B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic
- Group C: Uganda, Niger Republic, Guinea, Algeria, South Africa
- Group D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Squad for CHAN 2024:
Goalkeepers:
Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC), Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United), Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars)
Defenders:
Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars), Bankole Afeez (Kwara United), Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United), Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City), Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars), Ngengen Leonard (Ikorodu City), Steven Mayo Egbe (Rivers United)
Midfielders:
Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna, Otaniyi Taofik, Akanni Qudus, Michael Tochukwu, Alex Oyowah (all from Remo Stars or Rivers United)
Forwards:
Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United), Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City), Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars), Temitope Vincent (Plateau United), Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors), Godwin Obaje (Rangers International), Jabbar Malik (Remo Stars)
Nigeria will be aiming to win their first-ever CHAN title and add another trophy to their growing list of achievements in African football.