Nigeria ended their Group D campaign at the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 in Dar es Salaam with a 2–0 victory over Congo on Tuesday.
However, the win was not enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Anas Yusuf put Nigeria ahead in the 56th minute, ending their goal drought, and Sikiru Alimi added a stoppage-time header to secure the win. Despite the positive result, Sudan and Senegal progressed from the group after playing a 0–0 draw in Kampala, leaving Nigeria third with three points.
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Coach Eric Chelle described the outcome as a mixture of relief and frustration after a difficult group stage in which his side conceded five goals without reply in their first two matches.
“Mistakes have haunted us,” Chelle admitted before the match. On Tuesday, the team delivered a composed and disciplined performance.
Congo, needing a win to remain in contention, struggled to convert opportunities and suffered a setback when Charles Atipo was shown a red card in stoppage time following a VAR review. Moments later, Alimi’s header confirmed Nigeria’s victory and ended Congo’s tournament.
The Super Eagles had to cope without eight key players due to overseas commitments, forcing Chelle to make adjustments throughout the group stage. While the win gave them three points, it could not reverse the damage from earlier defeats. Sudan topped the group on goal difference (+4), Senegal followed with (+1), and Congo finished last with two points.
CAF Online noted that Nigeria leaves the tournament with lessons to build on, while Sudan and Senegal advance unbeaten, demonstrating defensive strength that will be crucial in the knockout stages.
