Guinea kicked off their CHAN 2024 journey in gritty fashion, edging regional rivals Niger 1-0 in a tense Group C showdown at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. In a match that demanded patience, discipline, and a touch of VAR drama, Syli Nationale held their nerve to snatch all three points; thanks to a well-taken goal early in the second half that ultimately separated the two closely-matched sides.

The opening minutes saw both teams feel each other out, with Niger looking slightly more assertive. The hosts controlled early possession and even threatened with a close-range free kick in the 8th minute, though Guinea’s defence stood firm. As the match wore on, Guinea gradually grew into the contest, establishing some control by the 20th minute but finding Niger’s defence difficult to penetrate.

Both sides had spells of dominance and attacking intent in the first half, though the play was frequently broken up by fouls and offside calls. In the 36th minute, Niger thought they had taken the lead following a well-worked move, but VAR intervened and ruled out the goal for offside; leaving the score 0-0 at the break despite some exciting moments on both ends.

The second half began at a higher tempo, and Guinea wasted no time. Just two minutes after the restart, winger Alhassane Bangoura whipped in a dangerous low cross from the left. Mohamed Bangoura II reacted first and finished calmly into the bottom corner. The assistant’s flag went up immediately, but after a tense VAR check, the goal was confirmed; sending the Guinea bench into wild celebrations.

Niger responded well to the setback. By the 50th minute, they had grown stronger, pushing into Guinea’s half in search of an equaliser. A flurry of attacking play saw them dominate possession briefly, and in the 54th minute they came close again, but their finishing let them down.

The final 20 minutes saw the intensity rise. Both coaches made tactical substitutions to swing the match, with Niger clearly going for broke while Guinea looked to manage the lead. In the 66th minute, Niger continued to press with urgency, but Guinea held shape and discipline. The midfield battle became more physical, leading to more yellow cards and a few stoppages that disrupted momentum.

From the 78th minute onwards, the game entered a chaotic but thrilling phase. Tactical tweaks injected life into both sides as Guinea sought to kill the game and Niger hunted desperately for a leveller. In the 82nd and 86th minutes, Niger came close from distance, testing Guinea’s resilience, but still could not find a way past the solid Syli Nationale backline.

Referee Mehrez Melki added six minutes of stoppage time, turning the final minutes into a frantic push-and-pull affair. Niger threw everything forward while Guinea defended with grit. In the 96th minute, Ridouane Assane had a last-ditch effort blocked, and when Abdoul Kassali’s final forward run was flagged offside, Niger’s hopes evaporated.

Guinea’s defence, marshalled by Mohamed Diabaté and protected by the hardworking duo of Ousmane Drame and Ibrahima Sankhon, stood tall when it mattered most. Goalkeeper Ousmane Camara wasn’t overly busy, but showed command in dealing with late corners and high balls.

With this win, Guinea takes an early lead in Group C; an encouraging start in a pool that includes host nation Uganda, South Africa, and Algeria. For Niger, it’s a missed opportunity despite a spirited second-half fight. They’ll need to regroup quickly to keep their CHAN 2024 hopes alive.