AFCON 2019
Senegal vs Algeria
30 June Air-Defence Stadium, Cairo
Thursday, 27-06-2019 @11pm
Two of the tournament favourites, Senegal and Algeria will face off at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo for their Africa Cup of Nations Group C contest on Thursday evening.
The Teranga Lions will welcome back their star man Sadio Mane who missed their comfortable 2-0 victory against Tanzania due to suspension.
The Desert warriors also sailed past Kenya in their group opener on Sunday, thanks to goals from Baghdad Bounedjah and Riyad Mahrez.
Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse believes Mane’s return will be key for his side and said that this is not the decisive game in the group
“The return of Sadio Mane is great for us and is one of our leaders, he is very ready for game. We have no anti Mahrez plan or similar for Sofiane Feghouli, they are all great players.”
This is a great game for the two sides who have potential, both started well with individuals here and there. This is not the decisive game, though it’s an important game not a decisive one.”
Algeria’s Djamel Belmadi also told the media that they won’t focus on individuals in this game
“Mane is back on their side, he is fresh and it’s going to be cool. Senegal won the first game without him. I believe focusing on individuals is not the best way to prepare for a match.” Stated Belmadi.
Senegal and Algeria played out to a 2-2 draw at the 2017 AFCON group game in Gabon.
The Desert Warriors have been unconquerable in their previous seven games, winning 5 and drawn 2. They have also unbeaten against Senegal in the continental showpiece, won 2 and drawn once.
The Teranga Lions have won three of their previous five games in the competition.
Algeria could win two Africa Cup of Nations games in a row for the first time since the 1996 edition in South Africa.
Cisse’s side will look up to Keita Balde who stepped up to the occasion in the absence of Mane against Tanzania whereas the Algerians will put their trust in Mahrez, alongside Yacine Brahimi and Islam Slinani who grabbed a brace against the Senegalese during the previous edition.
The winner of this encounter will join hosts Egypt and Nigeria who already made it to the round of 16.
Thursday’s other games
-Madagascar vs Burundi @5:30pm
-Kenya vs Tanzania @11pm
Wednesday’s results
-Nigeria 1-0 Guinea
-Uganda 1-1 Zimbabwe
-Egypt 2-0 DR Congo
