Our prediction for this Africa Cup of Nations 2024 match:
Senegal
Match Time & Date:
15/01/2024
09:00 AM
Prediction: 2-0
Gambia
Senegal and Gambia take on each other at Charles Konan Banny Stadium in the Group C opener. The Lions of Teranga continue relying on Al Nassr ace Sadio Mane, who is likely to prove a handful for the opposition back-line. With the likes of Nicolas Jackson, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, and Kalidou Koulibaly in the squad, it is no wonder Senegal are seen as hot favourites to win Sunday’s clash.
The Scorpions, on the other hand, aim to make amends for back-to-back losses to Burundi and Ivory Coast in the WC qualifiers, but they face yet another uphill task against Senegal, who are considered one of the teams to beat at the showpiece tournament in Ivory Coast. In their last meeting in a competitive match the Lions of Teranga defeated the Scorpions and we predict that history is going to repeat itself. A man to watch in the away team will be former Bologna striker Musa Barrow, who has 32 caps for the Gambia national team.
Highlighted Player (Sadio Mané):
Sadio Mane is a Senegalese footballer who plays for Liverpool as a winger. Mane was born in Sedhiou Senegal on April 10, 1992, but he made his senior debut at French club Metz. In 2012 he moved to Red Bull Salzburg, with the pacey winger scoring 31 goals in 63 appearances for the club in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Mane then decided to take a step forward in his career as he joined famous Premier League club Liverpool for a fee of £34 million, signing a five-year contract with the Reds. The Senegal international quickly established himself as a first-team regular at Liverpool and, no doubt, he helped the Anfield outfit make it to the 2017/2018 Champions League final.
Speaking of trophies, Sadio Mane won the Austrian Bundesliga with Salzburg in the 2013/2014 season. In 2017 he was named Liverpool player of the year for the 2016/2017 season. Sadio Mane made his Senegal debut in 2012 and he was part of the Senegal team that participated at the 2012 Olympic tournament.
Highlighted Team (Senegal):
The Senegaesel national football team made their first appearance at Africa Cup of Nations back in 1965, with the team finishing the tournament in fourth place. The Lions of Teranga booked their place at the FIFA World Cup finals in 2002 (for the first time) and they did remarkably well to make it to the quarter-finals of the showpiece tournament in South Korea and Japan.
Senegal defeated Sweden in the last 16, with Henri Camara scoring the winner for the African team in the extra time. The Lions of Teranga have yet to win the African Cup of Nations, but they made it to the final of the tournament in 2002. Senegal faced Cameroon in the title game and they were more than unfortunate to lose the Africa Cup of Nations final on penalties.
Former Liverpool ace El Hadji Diouf is probably the most famous footballer who played for the Senegalese national team. Senegal play their home games at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor and the capacity of the venue is 60,000.
