Guinea opened their CHAN 2024 marketing campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Niger on Monday night on the Nelson Mandela Nationwide Stadium in Kampala.
It wasn’t probably the most glamorous of matches, however it was knowledgeable efficiency from the Syli Nationale, who confirmed management and defensive self-discipline to stroll away with all three factors on this Group C opener.
The decisive second got here simply two minutes after the restart. Alhassane Bangoura delivered a low ball from the left flank, and Mohamed Bangoura II reacted first within the field, calmly guiding it into the underside nook. There was a short pause because the assistant flagged for offside, however VAR intervened and the purpose stood — a lot to the aid and celebration of the Guinea bench.
Each groups had approached the match with warning, and the primary half mirrored that — filled with fouls, midfield scrambles, and only a few clear-cut possibilities. Guinea appeared extra settled, whereas Niger struggled to seek out rhythm going ahead.
Within the second half, Niger pushed more durable looking for an equaliser. Substitute Abdoul-Latif Goumey got here closest with a header that went simply huge, whereas Ridouane Assane tried his luck from distance on a few events. Bilal Oumarou additionally supplied some spark from huge positions, however Guinea’s backline held agency.
Mohamed Diabaté led by instance on the coronary heart of Guinea’s defence, with assist from Ousmane Drame and Ibrahima Sankhon in midfield, who helped disrupt Niger’s build-up play. Goalkeeper Ousmane Camara didn’t have an excessive amount of to do, however he stayed alert, particularly throughout a nervy closing stretch that noticed Niger win a number of corners and throw our bodies ahead.
Eight minutes of added time solely elevated the stress, however Guinea stayed composed. A final-ditch block within the 96th minute denied Assane, and when Kassali was flagged offside on a closing run, the job was executed.
The consequence places Guinea in a powerful early place in a tricky group that additionally options Algeria, hosts Uganda, and South Africa.
For Niger, it’s a disappointing begin, they usually now face a must-win scenario of their subsequent match in the event that they hope to remain within the race for the knockout levels.
