Liberia vs Senegal: Sunday saw the tie at the first round of the final round of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship, CHAN, 2024 between Senegal and Liberia. This was an exciting tie between the two teams, and hence resulted in a stalemate with a result of 1-1 until the very end, keeping everything in store for the second-leg tie in Dakar.

Let’s go through the highlights of the Liberia vs Senegal match, other CHAN 2024 qualifiers moments, and what is really expected in the return-leg tie.

Liberia vs Senegal: Senegal Strikes First, Liberia Responds

The match kicked off with much intensity as Senegal dominated possession. The efforts paid off when Seydina Mbaye scored a well-timed goal to give the defending champions an early lead, but Liberia, cheered on by the passionate home crowd, would not go down.

In the second half, intense attacks by Liberia reached fruition with Bility’s last-minute equalizer. But for that dramatic goal equalizing the match, much underlined the determined motive of Liberia to challenge one of the African giants of the game.

The return leg, scheduled for December 25 in Dakar, presents a golden opportunity for Senegal to capitalize on their home advantage. However, the resilience of Liberia suggests this will be no easy task.

What’s at Stake for Liberia and Senegal?

The CHAN tournament showcases players active in their respective domestic leagues and is a high-profile platform for emerging African talent. With the finals set to be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in February 2024, both teams have everything to play for.

It’s all about progression for Senegal as they look to defend their CHAN title, while for Liberia, it’s a perfect opportunity to make a statement by knocking out the reigning champions.

CHAN 2024 Qualifiers: Weekend Highlights

The Liberia vs. Senegal showdown wasn’t the only exciting match of the weekend. Across the continent, teams battled fiercely in their first-leg qualifiers.

Saturday, 21 December 2024

• Lesotho 0-2 Angola: Angola displayed tactical superiority to secure an away win.
• Equatorial Guinea 0-0 Congo: A defensive battle resulted in a goalless draw.
• Mozambique 0-3 Zambia: Zambia delivered a commanding performance.
• Eswatini 0-2 Madagascar: Madagascar’s win puts them in a strong position for the second leg.
• Chad 1-1 DR Congo: A balanced game keeps both teams’ hopes alive.

Sunday, 22 December 2024

• South Sudan 3-2 Rwanda: Malish Mandela and Ezibon’s goals powered South Sudan to a thrilling win despite the spirited response for Rwanda through Muhire and Didier.
• Ethiopia 0-2 Sudan: Sudan delivered a solid away victory.
• Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 Burkina Faso: Oumar Konaté shone with two goals for Côte d’Ivoire.
• Mauritania 1-0 Mali: A narrow victory for Mauritania leaves Mali with work to do.
• Togo 1-1 Niger: Both teams have kept their hopes alive after a well-balanced match.
• Ghana 0-0 Nigeria: West African derby ended all square in a tight encounter.

Second Leg: High-Stakes Encounters Await

The second leg is promising to be intense, and teams are going to give it their all in order to earn slots in CHAN 2024.

Key matches to watch include:

• Senegal vs. Liberia: Will Senegal triumph at home, or can Liberia pull off an upset?
• Ghana vs. Nigeria: The West African teams are evenly matched in what promises to be a thrilling return leg.
• South Sudan vs. Rwanda: With South Sudan holding a slim advantage, Rwanda will aim to overturn the deficit.
• Sudan vs. Ethiopia: Sudan’s two-goal lead puts them in a strong position, but Ethiopia could bounce back.

Liberia vs Senegal: What to Expect from Senegal in Dakar?

Second-leg strategies for Senegal are most likely to revolve around dominating possession and turning scoring opportunities into goals. While the experience of being defending champions may give them a slight edge, they would be unwise to underrate the fighting spirit of Liberia.

For Liberia, playing away is a challenge, yet their ability to score against Senegal shows they are capable of an upset.

The Road Ahead for Liberia and Senegal

The 1-1 draw between Liberia and Senegal sets a good stage for a dramatic return leg. As different teams across Africa go to their decisive matches, this road to CHAN 2024 is getting no less exciting.

Save the date for December 25 as Senegal host Liberia in Dakar; for now, follow all updates as we track their route to CHAN 2024 glory.