Guinea kicked off their TotalEnergies CHAN 2024 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. The win marks a confident start for the Syli Nationale, who showed discipline, grit, and tactical maturity to secure all three points in their Group A opener.
The match began with both sides showing caution, exchanging fouls and struggling to find attacking rhythm in the first half. Guinea, however, appeared more structured in midfield and defense, frustrating Niger’s attempts to break through. Clear-cut chances were rare, but the tone was set for a fiercely contested second half.
Just two minutes after the break, the deadlock was broken. Mohamed Bangoura II latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted it past the Nigerien goalkeeper. The linesman raised his flag for offside, but VAR review confirmed the goal stood, sparking celebrations in the Guinean camp and silencing the opposition fans.
Niger responded with intensity, pushing bodies forward in search of an equalizer. However, they were continually thwarted by a rock-solid Guinean defense marshaled by Mohamed Diabaté. When Niger did manage to get shots on target, goalkeeper Ousmane Camara stood tall, pulling off two crucial saves that preserved Guinea’s slim advantage.
Despite late pressure from Niger, Guinea remained composed and professionally saw out the game. With the victory, they take an early lead in the group and send a strong message to the rest of the competition. For Niger, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to bounce back in their next match.
Photo: Zaabu Sports | Kamira Asha
