Teams
Belmadi was evidently satisfied with his team’s performance during their 2-0 win over Kenya in the opening game because he’s sent out the same XI again. Cissé, meanwhile, has only made the two essential changes: Mané returns for the injured Sarr, and Ndiaye replaces Gueye.
Senegal: Mendy; Wagué, Koulibaly, Kouyaté, Sabaly; A. Ndiaye, Pape A. Ndiaye; Diatta, Mané;- Baldé, Niang
Algeria: M’bolhi; Atal, Bensebaini, Benlamri, Mandi; Guedioura, Feghouli, Bennacer; Mahrez, Belaili, Bounedjah.
Referee: J Sikazwe (Zambia)
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to what could be the best match of the tournament so far – and there’s already been plenty of entertainment. Senegal and Algeria are among the favourites for outright glory and both come into this clash on the back of solid victories in their opening games and, in the case of Senegal, reinforced by Sadio Mané, who missed the win over Tanzania through suspension. If either team prevails here today, they will be guaranteed a place in the next round and will probably leap to the top of the favourites table. Call it Mané v Mahrez if you want, but these teams have lots of class beyond their star attractions.
Granted, Mané’s return is slightly offset by the losses of Ismaila Sarr and Idrissa Gueye but Senegal probably have enough quality to overcome that. Keita Baldé is in hot form and if Krépin Diatta performs as well today as he did in the first match, there’ll be talk of a new star on the rise. The Lions of Teranga will certainly test an Algerian defence that has yet to convince that it can withstand serious pressure. That is a sector in which Senegal look much stronger, though Algeria may put that theory under strain, especially wth Yacine Brahimi seemingly back on song.
The managers, Djamel Belmadi and Aliou Cissé, know each other well, not least from having lived just a few doors from each other during part of their childhood in Paris. And at yesterday’s pre-match press conference neither agreed with the notion that Algeria have a psychological edge over Senegal by dint of a far superior record in head-to-head meetings throughout history. Senegal have won only four of 21 previous encounters and never got the better of the Fennec Foxes at the Africa Cup of Nations, including in the last two editions, which ended in a 2-2 draw (2017) and a 2-0 triumph for Algeria (2015). But this is a year in which Senegal are expected to right past wrongs and, their fans hope with good reason, be crowned African champions for the first time. So where you? Let’s be having you!
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