Senegal Book Maiden CHAN Final Slot With 1-0 Win Against Madagascar

Senegal rose to the final of the 7th edition of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), on Tuesday, at the Nelson Mandela stadium, via a 1-0 scoreline over Madagascar.

The lone goal was scored at the 5th minute, and it was enough for the home-based Teranga Lions to sail through to the final.

In the final, the Senegal pits the Desert Foxes of Algeria who outclassed Niger 5-0 earlier on Tuesday.

Lamine Camara and his teammates started like a house on fire and imposed their physical and technical superiority in the opening minutes against Madagascar.

The good start made it possible for Senegal to be rewarded with an early goal, scored in the fifth 5th minute of play. On a delivery on the left from the trusted boots of Mamadou Sané, Pape Diallo jumped highest, to head pass the Malagasy goalkeeper.

The “Baréas” reacted with good streak in attack, but they weren’t decisive in the final third, in front of a well-grouped Senegalese defense.

Pape Thiaw’s men managed to win 50-50 battles in the midfield and maintained the pressure. They however struggled to exploit clear-cut chances they obtained during the first period.

Cheikh Diouf was in on goal following a defensive error. The striker, one-v-one with the goalkeeper, awkwardly sent his shot over the bar of the Baréas at the 18th minute.

Moussa Ndiaye missed a carbon copy of the same action at the 25th minute. Pape Diallo was next on the line of misses. His shot at point blank range was parried by goalkeeper Nina at the 36th minute.

Back from the locker room, Senegal was still in full control. They kept up the pressure and got even better opportunities to add to the goal tally.

Following good pressing and recovery of the ball, Moussa Ndiaye tried from midfield, to lob the keeper but Nina matched it with an acrobatic save.

Cheikh Diouf equally missed a golden opportunity when he managed to eliminate goalkeeper Nina and found himself in front of an empty net. Once again, in a hurry, the Senegalese striker sent the ball into the side netting.

Despite the few incursions of the Baréas, in the Senegalese surface, the Lions remained solid and managed to maintain their advantage, until the final whistle.

The lets Senegal to play their first CHAN final in the competition’s 7th edition.

Senegal making its return after 14 years go a step closer to their first trophy in the final which will be played on Saturday, February 4.

It will be against hosts Algeria who defeated Niger a little earlier in the evening, on the score of 5 to 0.