Senegal Women took full control of their CAF Women's African Cup of Nations qualifying tie with a disciplined 3-0 victory over Chad Women on 20 February 2025. The Senegalese side dominated possession from the opening minutes, suffocating Chad's midfield and creating a steady stream of chances in a one-sided contest that showcased the growing depth of women's football in West Africa.

Senegal's patient build-up pays off

Chad Women arrived with a compact defensive structure, aiming to frustrate Senegal and stay in the tie for as long as possible. That plan worked for much of the first half, with Chad's defenders throwing bodies in front of shots and their goalkeeper making several sharp stops. Senegal, however, kept their composure and refused to rush their attacking moves. Their patience was rewarded shortly before halftime when a well-worked sequence down the right flank ended with a low cross that was turned in from close range to make it 1-0.

The goal shifted the momentum completely. Chad began the second half with more intent, pushing higher up the pitch in search of an equalizer, but that only opened up spaces for Senegal to exploit.

Second-half clinical edge

Within ten minutes of the restart, Senegal doubled their lead through a moment of individual brilliance. A midfielder collected the ball 25 yards from goal, took a touch to steady herself, and curled a stunning effort into the top corner. The away side's defenders were left helpless, and Senegal's players celebrated what will certainly be one of the goals of the qualifying round.

The third goal arrived late in the match, methodically built through one-touch passing across the edge of the Chad box. A clever reverse pass released the left winger, who unselfishly squared the ball for a teammate to slot home into an empty net. That finish put the result beyond any doubt and gave Senegal a commanding advantage to carry into the second leg.

Key stats from the match

• 3-0 final scoreline in favour of Senegal Women.
• Three different goalscorers each found the net, highlighting Senegal's spread of attacking threats.
• 18 shots for Senegal compared to just four for Chad.
• Clean sheet preserved by Senegal's organised back line and confident goalkeeper.

Looking ahead

Senegal Women now have one foot in the next round of the CAF Women's African Cup of Nations qualifiers, and their performance will worry many of the continent's stronger sides. The result also underlines the progress Senegal has made in recent years, with the team now expecting to compete among Africa's elite. Chad Women will need a remarkable turnaround in the second leg, but their brave defensive display in the first half showed they are capable of causing problems on their home ground.

For Senegal, the message was clear: they are taking this competition seriously, and they have the quality to go a long way.