A new chapter beckons for Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles as they prepare to launch their campaign at CHAN 2024, with a blockbuster opener against defending champions Senegal on Tuesday.

This comes just days after the Nigerian women’s team lit up the continent with a record-extending 10th WAFCON title, and now it’s the turn of the men to chase glory — this time, strictly with homegrown talent.

But for the Super Eagles B, this is more than just another tournament — it’s a mission to redeem lost time and painful memories. Since the African Nations Championship kicked off in 2009, Nigeria has had a bittersweet relationship with the tournament.

In the maiden edition in Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria famously let slip a 2-0 lead to fall 2-3 to Ghana in Accra, before firing blanks in Calabar. They didn’t qualify in 2011, but bounced back with a memorable bronze in 2014 under the late, great Stephen Keshi, overturning a stunning 3-0 half-time deficit against Morocco on the road to third place.

The team stumbled in Rwanda (2016), soared to the final in Morocco (2018), but missed the last two editions in Cameroon and Algeria altogether.

Now, back on the continental stage for just their fourth appearance, the Eagles know the stakes. The ghosts of past exits linger, but so too does the promise of a new dawn — and it all begins against the Lions of Teranga.

Can Nigeria finally conquer CHAN? The journey begins now.