Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has explained why Nigeria fell to a 1-0 defeat against Senegal in their opening match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), Group D.

The match, played on Tuesday evening at the Amani Stadium in Tanzania, saw Senegal secure all three points thanks to a second-half strike from Christian Gomis.

Reacting after the game, Chelle admitted that the Senegalese side outperformed Nigeria by playing with more aggression and intensity. He said the Senegalese team showed more desire and energy on the pitch, and that they fully deserved the win.

He pointed out that his players struggled to keep up with Senegal’s pace and physicality throughout the encounter. According to him, this made the difference in the outcome of the game.

The coach also revealed that a mistake from his side in the second half led directly to Senegal’s goal. He said the team couldn’t properly settle into the game and may have been mentally unprepared or even nervous.

Chelle stressed that while it was a small error, it was enough to cost Nigeria the match. He remains hopeful as the team shifts its focus to their next group game.

Nigeria will return to action next Tuesday when they face Sudan in what is now a crucial match in their CHAN 2024 campaign.