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NAIROBI: Senegal beat Nigeria 1-0 in their opening group match at Zanzibar’s Amaan stadium on Tuesday to make a successful start to their African Nations Championships (CHAN) title defense.

The sides were evenly matched for the majority of the encounter before Senegal, who were meeting their West African rivals for the first time in the championships, managed to break the deadlock in the 75th minute.

Midfielder Serigne Koite pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the box, drew out the Nigerian goalkeeper and set up Christian Gomis to tap home the winner for Senegal.

Senegal’s next opponents Congo came from behind to hold favorites Sudan to a 1-1 draw in an evenly-contested game.

The Sudanese Falcons had appeared on course to collect all three points after wonderkid Musa Ali Hussein had given them an early lead in the 29th minute.

The Al Merrikh striker weaved past a pair of Congolese defenders before releasing a right-footed shot from the left side of the box to give his side a well deserved lead.

But a defensive lapse inside the last five minutes allowed underdogs Congo to share the spoils.

Substitute Carly Ekongo rescued his country in the 86th minute when he capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area to smash home the equalizer.

RIYADH: Holders Al-Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify after withdrawing from this season’s four-team competition, the ������Ƶ Football Federation’s (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said on Tuesday.

The decision came after Al-Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played from August 19-23 in Hong Kong, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4.

“Al-Hilal refused to participate in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the official schedule for the competition was issued,” the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said in a statement.

“As a result, the committee ruled that Al-Hilal had violated Article (59-3) of the Disciplinary and Ethics Regulations and fined the club 500,000 Saudi Riyals ($133,000) to be paid to the SAFF,” the statement added.

In addition to the fine, the club was banned from participating in the 2026-27 Super Cup and stripped of any financial awards allocated for this season’s competition.

The committee said the decision is subject to appeal.

Al-Hilal have been asked for comment.

They won the Super Cup by beating Al-Nassr last season for a record-extending fifth title.

The Saudi Super Cup is contested by the winners and runners-up of the King’s Cup and Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal finished second in the 2024-25 Pro League behind Al-Ittihad.

Al-Hilal, who were due to face King’s Cup runners-up Al-Qadsiah in the Super Cup semifinals on August 20, have been replaced by AFC Champions League winners Al-Ahli.

Since Al-Ittihad won the Pro League and King’s Cup, the extra Super Cup spot was awarded to Al-Nassr — the third-placed team in the league — who they face in the semis on August 19.