Super Eagles B Face Uphill Task As They Aim For Historic CHAN 2024 Triumph.
Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles B have set their sights on a maiden African Nations Championship (CHAN) title as they compete in the 2024 edition, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from 2 to 30 August 2025. Drawn in Group D alongside defending champions Senegal, Congo, and Sudan, the team, led by newly appointed head coach Eric Chelle, is determined to make a mark in Zanzibar, where their group stage matches are being played at the 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium.
The Super Eagles B kicked off their campaign with a challenging 1-0 defeat to Senegal on 5 August, with Christian Gomis’ 75th-minute strike proving decisive. Despite a solid starting XI featuring captain Junior Nduka, goalkeeper Mustapha Lawal, and forwards Sikiru Alimi and Anthony Ijoma, Nigeria struggled to match Senegal’s aggression, as noted by Coach Chelle, who urged his squad to sharpen their approach to avoid an early exit. The loss has placed Nigeria at the bottom of Group D, but with two matches remaining, fans in Aba and beyond remain optimistic about a turnaround, drawing inspiration from the team’s resilience and the success of Nigeria’s Super Falcons and D’Tigress.
The 23-man squad, announced by Chelle on 23 July, boasts a strong domestic core, with eight players from Nigerian champions Remo Stars, including defenders Sadiq Ismaila and Bankole Afeez, and forwards Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi. Despite the absence of former standout Papa Daniel, who moved to Slovenia, the team’s depth is evident with seven defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards. Chelle, who also manages the senior Super Eagles, has integrated talents from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), aligning with the Nigeria Football Federation’s policy to blend domestic and international players for future success.
Nigeria’s preparations included a week-long camp in Zanzibar, where they played two friendly matches against the hosts, resulting in a 2-2 draw and a 0-0 stalemate. These games tested the team’s readiness, with Chelle fine-tuning tactics ahead of crucial group stage clashes against Congo on 12 August and Sudan on 19 August. A victory in either match could secure a quarter-final berth, keeping Nigeria’s hopes alive for a first CHAN title since the tournament’s inception in 2009.
With a record-breaking $10.4 million prize pool announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including $3.5 million for the champions, the stakes are high. Nigeria, who reached the final in 2018 but lost 4-0 to Morocco, are eager to surpass their previous best and join the ranks of two-time winners Morocco and DR Congo. As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on whether a new hero, reminiscent of Chisom Chikatara’s 2016 hat-trick, will emerge to propel the Super Eagles B to glory on East African soil.