Senegal target CHAN quarter-final spot in decisive clash with Congo

Senegal will take on Congo on Tuesday afternoon at the Amaan Stadium in Tanzania in a rescheduled second-round fixture of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) group stage, now being played in 2025.

Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT, and the contest is expected to carry significant weight in determining the outcome of Group D.

The defending champions opened their campaign with a narrow but important 1-0 victory over Nigeria, a result that has placed them in a strong position to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Another win would confirm Senegal’s passage into the knockout stages and reinforce their status as one of the tournament’s frontrunners. The fixture against Congo will also mark a first-ever CHAN meeting between the two nations, adding further intrigue to the occasion.

Congo, meanwhile, enter the match under growing pressure. Their opening outing ended in a 1-1 draw with Niger, leaving them with just a single point and an uphill task in a group that features two of the continent’s most highly regarded sides.

Failure to collect three points against Senegal would mean the Congolese must face Nigeria in their final group game with qualification hanging in the balance. Against a Nigerian side widely tipped as one of the group favourites, that scenario would represent a daunting challenge.

For Senegal, the task is straightforward. Victory would not only secure their place in the last eight but also allow them to manage their resources more comfortably ahead of the knockout rounds.

With expectations high following their title-winning run in the previous edition, head coach and players alike are keen to maintain momentum and ensure their crown is defended in convincing fashion.

Congo’s ambitions, however, cannot be underestimated. The Red Devils A’ have reached the quarter-finals twice before, in 2018 and 2020, although their most recent attempt ended in disappointment with a penalty shootout loss to Mali after a goalless draw. That defeat marked their last appearance in the knockout rounds, and they are eager to return to that stage after a five-year absence.

The team’s draw against Niger was seen as a missed opportunity, and they now face the added pressure of taking on the champions in a match that could define their tournament.

A win would dramatically reshape the group standings and restore belief within the squad, while a defeat would all but force them into a must-win showdown with Nigeria.

Both sides enter the contest aware of what is at stake. For Senegal, it is the chance to reaffirm their authority and guarantee a spot among the last eight. For Congo, it is a battle for survival, a fight to keep their hopes alive heading into the final round of group matches.

The stage is therefore set at the Amaan Stadium for a compelling encounter. With Senegal chasing early qualification and Congo determined to revive their campaign, the stakes could hardly be higher in this Group D clash.