Home Base Eagles
By Bolatito Mercy
The Super Eagles B, Nigeria’s home-based national team, concluded their 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) campaign on a high note with a 2-0 victory over Congo. The match took place at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Despite the win, both teams had already been eliminated from the tournament prior to this match.
The match saw Anas Yusuf score the opening goal in the 56th minute with a beautiful finish after Sikiru Alimi headed down a cross from Abdulrafiu Taiwo. Alimi sealed the win with a header in the 93rd minute, capitalizing on a free kick awarded after Congo’s Charles Atipo received a red card for a reckless challenge.
In the first half, both teams struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Congo’s Guy Mbenza forced two saves from Nigerian goalkeeper Victor Sochima, but the Nigerian team managed to keep the scoreline goalless at halftime.
Despite the win, Nigeria finished third in Group D with three points, while Sudan and Senegal advanced to the quarterfinals with five points each. The victory, however, provided a morale boost for the team, and coach Eric Chelle expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance.
Chel praised his team’s resilience and improved play, highlighting that the win provided a foundation for future growth and development. He noted that the team had shown significant progress and was moving in the right direction.
On the other hand, Congo’s coach, Barthélémy Ngatsono, acknowledged that his team lacked the cutting edge needed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. He expressed disappointment with the team’s performance, citing the lack of creativity and finishing as major concerns.
The win marked a positive end to Nigeria’s CHAN campaign, and the team will look to build on the momentum gained from this match as they prepare for future competitions.
