Senegal will get their 2022 AFCON (African Cup of Nations) underway on Monday when they play Zimbabwe.
Venue: Kouekong Stadium (Bafoussam)
Key Statistics
Senegal are unbeaten in their last six games (W5, D1).
They have failed to score only once in their last 15 games in all competitions.
They have kept one clean sheet in their last five games.
Zimbabwe are winless in the last 12 games ( D5, L7).
They have won just once in the last 19 matches (D7, L11).
Zimbabwe have failed to score in eight of their last twelve games.
Head to head
Both sides have met three times in the past with Senegal winning all three games.
Latest Performances in all competitions
Senegal: W-D-W-W-W
Zimbabwe: D-D-L-L-L
Senegal
Senegal will begin their 2022 AFCON campaign with a match against Zimbabwe this Monday.
Sadio Mane and co were the first team to qualify for the tournament as they won their group with 14 points (W4, D2).
They come into this tournament as one of the favourites and are currently the highest-ranked African country in FIFA rankings.
The ‘Lions of Tarenga’ have no better chance to end their bareness on the international stage and come into this tie with high hopes.
They are unbeaten in 11 matches over 90 minutes (W8, D3) and will have the momentum and confidence to go one better than their runners-up finish in 2019.
Aliou Cissé’s men kept five clean sheets in seven matches in 2019 and they’ve opened their last three AFCON campaigns with victories whilst scoring exactly twice.
However, their campaign is being threatened by the outbreak of Covid-19 within their squad after a number of players and staff tested positive for the virus.
Possible Senegal starting line-ups
Seny Dieng; Bouna Sarr, Fode Ballo-Toure, Abdou Diallo, Pape Cisse; Chiekhou Kouyate, Idrissa Gueye; Bouna Sarr, Sadio Mane, Boulaye Dia; Diedhiou Famara.
Injured: Ismaïla Sarr, Alfred Gomis
Unavailable: Kalidou Koulibaly, Pape Sarr, Nampalys Mendy, Mame Thiam
Suspended: None
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s first match in the 2022 AFCON couldn’t have come against a worse opponent than Senegal.The Southern African side have lost each of the three previous meetings with their West African counterparts by a combined score of 5-1 and do not look like winning this time.
They come into this tie on the back of a run of 12 games without a win. They failed to score in eight of those games and conceded 15 times in that period.
Norman Mapeza’s side qualified for this round by finishing second in their group, six points behind Algeria and just one ahead of Zambia.
The Warriors are playing in the tournament for the third-straight time and will look to avoid a third consecutive group-stage exit.
They began both of their previous two AFCONs on a losing note but can back themselves to win their first match since March 2021.
Possible Zimbabwe starting line-ups
Petros Mhari; Teenage Hadebe, Peter Mudimu, Phiri McClive, Bruce Kangwa; Knowledge Musona, Kelvin Madzongwe, Takudzwa Chimwemwe, Kudakwashe Mahachi; Timo Kadewere, David Moyo.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Senegal 2-0 Zimbabwe
