Senegal kicks off their campaign to defend the Africa Cup of Nations title, meeting Gambia at Stade Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro this Monday evening.

Group C stands out as one of the most challenging in the competition, featuring powerhouses like five-time champions Cameroon and the emerging force, Guinea, set to clash in the aftermath of this match.

In the rich history of AFCON, only three nations—Egypt, Ghana, and Cameroon—have managed to successfully defend the title. Senegal, widely regarded as favorites this year, set their sights on breaking the streak since Egypt’s triumph in 2010.

Despite a sluggish start in the 2021 competition, marked by a single goal and two goalless draws in the group stages, Senegal triumphed against Egypt. The Lions of Teranga, bolstered by star players such as Nicolas Jackson, Serge Aurier, Kalidou Koulibaly, and the two-time African Player of the Year, Sadio Mane, enter the tournament on a high note, winning six of their last 10 matches.

Senegal’s recent encounter with Gambia in the 2015 African Nations Cup concluded with a 1-0 victory, maintaining an unblemished record since 2008.

Gambia, positioned as underdogs and the lowest-ranked team in Group C (29th among 53 African nations according to FIFA), embarks on their second AFCON appearance. Despite a memorable debut in the past, recent setbacks against Burundi and Ivory Coast in World Cup qualifying have raised concerns about their form.

Their journey to the Ivory Coast encountered complications, with their flight forced to U-turn post-departure due to a lack of oxygen—a harrowing experience described by some players as near-death.

Nevertheless, under Tom Saintfiet’s leadership, Gambia enters the competition with a giant-killing reputation, aiming to face Senegal with fearless determination, potentially leveraging it to their advantage.