Preview: Tunisia battle favorites Senegal in Cairo

by
Kelvin Trudeau Musako
July 13, 2019

2004 African Champions Tunisia are looking to upset tournament favourites Senegal and reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo tomorrow Sunday 14 July, 2019.

Tunisia ended Madagascar’s fairytale run at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday night to advance to the last four with a convincing 3-0 victory thanks to goals from Ferjani Sassi, Wahbi Khazri and Naïm Sliti did the damage for Alain Giresse. This was the Tunisia’s first victory at the tournament after drawing all their previous four matches.

Aliou Cisse’s men have been impressive in the tournament so far, winning four of their five matches and conceding just a single goal.

Tunisia had drawn all four of their games in 90 minutes before knocking out minnows Madagascar in the quarter-finals to book their place in the last four for the first time since 2004.

Head to Head

In recent years there has been little to chose between these two sides with the last six encounters bringing two wins for Tunisia, one victory for Senegal, and three draws.

It was the Senegalese who won the most recent encounter, a 2-0 group stage win in the 2017 edition of the tournament.

Key Players

Tunisia striker Wahbi Khazri recovered from a thigh problem to start the quarter-final win against Madagascar and should once more start. Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has been Senegal’s most dangerous player and will lead their attack once more on Sunday.

The last eight saw Senegal overcome a stubborn Benin side 1-0, and the semi-final could play out in similar fashion for Cisse’s men.

Indeed, the Lions of Teranga have been faced with defensive opponents throughout the tournament who have invited them to break them down, and Senegal have more often than not eventually found a way through.

Five of the seven goals they have scored in the tournament have come in the second half, with three of their five matches being goalless at the break.