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CAF
12 hours ago
- Sport
- CAF
Champions beware: Senegal braced for Congo test in CHAN Group D
The African Nations Championship has a way of punishing overconfidence. On Tuesday in Zanzibar, reigning champions Senegal will be reminded that in tournament football, reputations count for little when the whistle blows. Their Group D meeting with Congo may be only their second outing of the 2024 TotalEnergies CHAN, but coach Souleymane Diallo has already branded it a potential 'trap' — the kind that can derail a title defence before it has truly begun. It is a clash of two seasoned CHAN campaigners who have never crossed paths in this competition, yet both arrive with ambition sharp enough to cut through the humid Tanzanian air. For Senegal, victory would all but confirm a place in the quarterfinals. For Congo, it could throw the group into chaos. A Champion's Caution Diallo is not in the business of underestimating opponents. The Senegal coach has made clear that his side's preparation for Congo has been exhaustive, informed by detailed scouting from their first match. 'We sent colleagues who watched Congo's first game, and a report was sent to me, which I exploited, and we'll prepare our game approach based on that report,' Diallo revealed. 'It's a team that plays well as a unit, very resilient, and they play well on both flanks, utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation with wing-backs providing width.' For all of Senegal's attacking power, the champions will be wary of Congo's pace up front — forwards who thrive on darting into spaces behind the backline. Diallo's challenge is to close those channels while ensuring his side remains threatening in possession. Blueprint for Retaining the Crown This is not just another group-stage fixture for Diallo. It's part of a larger blueprint designed to keep Senegal's name etched on the trophy. 'We know the variant in Congo's game,' he said. 'The most important thing is what we do in the game. A plan was put in place throughout the week. We had five days to prepare. Tomorrow, we would try to apply a plan against Congo, focusing on maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities.' Senegal's method is clear: control the ball, dictate the rhythm, and be ruthless in the final third. That focus on disciplined execution is what carried them to their first CHAN crown in Algeria, and Diallo sees no reason to abandon it now. Koite's Quiet Confidence In Serigne Koite, Senegal have a midfielder who embodies calm under pressure. His vision and awareness unlocked Nigeria's defence in their opening game, pouncing on a loose ball before drawing the goalkeeper and squaring for Christian Gomis to score the only goal in the 75th minute. 'We wish to validate our qualification to quarterfinals,' Koite said, reflecting the measured focus that has become his hallmark. Koite's pedigree extends beyond this tournament — a CHAN silver medallist and now a gold medallist, with a championship-winning season at AS Jaraaf fresh in his mind. Those experiences could prove invaluable in navigating a tense fixture. Congo's Calculated Push Across the touchline, Congo arrive with their own sense of purpose. A battling 1-1 draw against Sudan on matchday one demonstrated their resilience. Down early to Musa Ali Hussein's strike, they fought back to level in the 86th minute through Carly Ekongo's opportunistic finish. Head coach Barthélemy Ngatsono, 68, has seen enough high-pressure football to know this is an opportunity to shift the group's balance. 'After the Sudan game, we took away both positives and negatives,' Ngatsono said. 'But we've trained with full awareness of what's at stake against Senegal. We didn't come here just to watch others lift the trophy. Like every other team, we're here for results.' Congo's Calculated Push Across the touchline, Congo arrive with their own sense of purpose. A battling 1-1 draw against Sudan on matchday one demonstrated their resilience. Down early to Musa Ali Hussein's strike, they fought back to level in the 86th minute through Carly Ekongo's opportunistic finish. Head coach Barthélemy Ngatsono, 68, has seen enough high-pressure football to know this is an opportunity to shift the group's balance. 'After the Sudan game, we took away both positives and negatives,' Ngatsono said. 'But we've trained with full awareness of what's at stake against Senegal. We didn't come here just to watch others lift the trophy. Like every other team, we're here for results.' Team Over Individual Glory Forward Japhet Mankou reinforced the team-first ethos. 'It's not about one player. It's about the team. We have to unite and give everything for the win,' Mankou said. He dismissed any talk of a battle between domestic leagues, insisting this match is about national pride: 'It's not about the leagues, this is Congo versus Senegal. We're fully committed to executing our game plan and following the instructions of our technical staff.' Physical and Tactical Stakes Group D's scheduling has given teams extra recovery time, something Ngatsono believes could help maintain intensity. 'The game spacing helps teams in Group D. It gives us better recovery time and more preparation for each match,' he noted. That could prove crucial against a Senegal side that thrives on high-tempo pressing and quick transitions. If Congo can frustrate the champions, the contest could open up late — as it did against Sudan. High Stakes, First Meeting With both sides making their fourth CHAN appearance and Nigeria and Sudan waiting in the wings, this first-ever meeting between Senegal and Congo promises to shape the group's destiny. A win for Senegal sends them to six points and into the last eight. A win for Congo, and suddenly the defending champions are under pressure. Either way, expect a match thick with tension, where one moment of brilliance or one lapse in concentration could settle it. For Diallo's champions, the warning has already been sounded. For Ngatsono's challengers, the chance to spring a surprise has never looked more inviting.
CAF
a day ago
- Sport
- CAF
Senegal aim to outwit Congo in 'trap' game as title defence heats up
The champions are on alert. Senegal, holders of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN), know all too well that in tournament football, the second game can be the most dangerous. And as they prepare to meet Congo in Group D on Tuesday at Zanzibar's Amani Stadium, coach Souleymane Diallo has called it exactly what it is — 'a trap' he's determined to escape. It's not just about three points. It's about momentum, safeguarding their crown, and making sure their journey in Tanzania doesn't hit an unexpected roadblock. Scouting the Red Devils Diallo's preparation for this clash has been anything but casual. The Senegal coach revealed that a dedicated scouting mission was dispatched to study Congo's opening game, producing a detailed report that has shaped the champions' approach. 'We sent colleagues who watched Congo's first game, and a report was sent to me, which I exploited, and we'll prepare our game approach based on that report,' Diallo explained. 'It's a team that plays well as a unit, very resilient, and they play well on both flanks, utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation with wing-backs providing width.' For Senegal, the warning is clear: Congo's wingers will stretch the play, and their quick forwards are always ready to pounce on space behind the backline. Defending the Crown While acknowledging Congo's qualities, Diallo made it clear the reigning champions will be judged on their own execution. 'We know the variant in Congo's game,' he said. 'The most important thing is what we do in the game. A plan was put in place throughout the week. We had five days to prepare. "Tomorrow, we would try to apply a plan against Congo, focusing on maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities.' In other words, it's not just about neutralising the opposition; it's about dictating the terms of battle. Koite's Quarterfinal Mission Midfielder Serigne Koite, the man who set up Senegal's winning goal against Nigeria on matchday one, is equally determined. 'We wish to validate our qualification to quarterfinals,' Koite said, pointing to a pragmatic approach built on discipline and control. Koite's influence could be decisive again. Against Nigeria, he pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box, drew the goalkeeper out, and unselfishly teed up Christian Gomis for a simple tap-in in the 75th minute — a moment that underlined Senegal's patience and precision under pressure. Congo's Fighting Spirit Congo will not arrive in Zanzibar to make up the numbers. They showed resilience in their 1-1 draw with Sudan, fighting back late through Carly Ekongo's equaliser after falling behind to Musa Ali Hussein's opener. That ability to claw back into games, combined with their physical presence and tactical structure, means Senegal will have to be sharper and faster in transition than they were against Nigeria. First Meeting with High Stakes Remarkably, this is the first-ever CHAN meeting between Senegal and Congo despite both sides having four appearances each in the competition. With Nigeria and Sudan still in the group picture, the result could have significant repercussions on the race for the knockouts. Koite, who already has CHAN silver and gold in his career collection, knows what's at stake. He was on the pitch in Algeria when Senegal stunned the hosts to lift their first-ever CHAN title. Now, fresh from a championship-winning season with AS Jaraaf, he hopes to pass on that winning mindset. What to Expect Senegal will likely look to control possession, press high in moments, and create overloads in wide areas to counter Congo's wing-back system. Congo, for their part, may seek to sit compact, absorb pressure, and hit on the break — a formula that unsettled Sudan in their opener. With both teams eager to stamp authority on the group, Tuesday's clash has all the makings of a tense, tactical battle — one where a single mistake or flash of brilliance could decide the outcome.
