Guinea Edges Past Niger 1-0 in CHAN PAMOJA 2024 Group C Opener at Mandela National Stadium
The encounter, a much-anticipated rematch of their thrilling 2-2 draw from the 2016 edition, unfolded with less flair and more physicality. Both sides approached the game with caution, opting for structured play over adventurous attacks, especially during a tight and testy first half.
Guinea began their TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 campaign with a gritty 1-0 win over regional rivals Niger on Monday night at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Kampala. The lone goal of the match came courtesy of Mohamed Bangoura II early in the second half, following a VAR confirmation, giving Syli Nationale a valuable three points in their Group C opener.
The encounter, a much-anticipated rematch of their thrilling 2-2 draw from the 2016 edition, unfolded with less flair and more physicality. Both sides approached the game with caution, opting for structured play over adventurous attacks, especially during a tight and testy first half.
From the opening whistle, it was evident that neither team was willing to take early risks. The match was characterized by midfield congestion and scrappy challenges, leading to a disrupted rhythm and limited goal-scoring opportunities. Lansana Sylla and Théodore Jules tested the goalkeepers with speculative efforts from distance, but neither effort came close to breaking the deadlock.
Niger, desperate to avoid a third straight CHAN defeat, played with discipline but lacked creativity in the final third. Guinea, meanwhile, relied on their superior game management and solid defensive organization to control proceedings without overcommitting.
VAR Drama and a Clinical Finish
The game’s decisive moment arrived just two minutes into the second half. Guinea winger Alhassane Bangoura carved open the Nigerien defence with a low cross from the left flank. Mohamed Bangoura II reacted swiftly, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his right foot. The assistant referee raised his flag for offside, halting the celebrations momentarily, but VAR intervened to confirm the goal—sparking jubilant scenes on the Guinea bench.
The goal forced Niger to adopt a more aggressive approach. Head coach Harouna Doula introduced Abdoul-Latif Goumey and Ridouane Assane in search of an equalizer. Goumey came closest in the 76th minute with a looping header that grazed just wide of the post. Assane also threatened with long-range strikes, while Bilal Oumarou’s dangerous crosses from the wings kept Guinea’s defenders on high alert.
Despite the late surge, Guinea’s defensive resolve stood firm. Centre-back Mohamed Diabaté was a rock at the heart of the back line, supported ably by the midfield steel of Ousmane Drame and substitute Ibrahima Sankhon. Goalkeeper Ousmane Camara was rarely tested directly but showed great command of his area, particularly during a tense period of successive Nigerien corners in stoppage time.
Referee Mehrez Melki signaled eight additional minutes, which only heightened the drama. In the 96th minute, Ridouane Assane saw his powerful shot blocked inside the box, while Abdoul Kassali’s final attempt was flagged offside, extinguishing Niger’s hopes of a late rescue.
The result gives Guinea a vital advantage in what is expected to be a fiercely contested Group C, featuring tournament co-hosts Uganda, former champions Algeria, and South Africa. It also extends their unbeaten run in open play to eight CHAN matches, reflecting a team that has grown in maturity and defensive discipline.
For Niger, it was a frustrating start to their fifth CHAN appearance. Following their impressive fourth-place finish in 2022, hopes were high for a strong start, but Monday’s narrow loss now puts pressure on Coach Doula’s squad to get results in their upcoming games.
Guinea will look to build on this momentum when they face South Africa in their next group fixture.
Niger will need to regroup quickly before taking on Algeria, knowing that anything less than a win could severely dent their quarter-final hopes.
As CHAN PAMOJA 2024 continues to deliver compelling matchups across East Africa, Guinea’s narrow but crucial win underlines just how fine the margins can be at this level—where one moment of quality, verified by technology, can define the outcome of an entire contest.
Follow CHAN PAMOJA 2024 for more updates, team news, and post-match reactions from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania as the tournament unfolds.
Additional photos: CAF
