The clash between Senegal and Algeria places teams with almost opposite careers in the African Cup of Nations. On the one hand, Senegal, already in the quarter-finals, on the other, Algeria, who need a victory while having to wait for Zimbabwe to beat Tunisia by the minimum margin. The context is rather complicated for Slimani’s team and company, having become worse when Aliou Cissé, the Senegalese coach, announced at a press conference that he does not foresee major changes in his eleven.
It has not been a Senegal of excellence, which is present in this edition of CAN, but it is a Senegalese team with a plan and an enormous capacity to execute this same plan to achieve, after the end of two games, the ticket to the next Stage of the competition. If against Senegal the Senegalese reached the goals due to errors of their opponent, even though they did not show a predominance of the game during the first time (and having been bent to the quality of the opponent during the second part of the same), vis-a-vis Zimbabwe we saw A team with enormous offensive focus, entering determined to kill any aspirations of his opponent and thus eliminating the hopes of a less experienced set in the race. Having won both games 2-0, Senegal did not avoid being pushed to their midfield in the respective second parts, revealing consistency at the defensive level. Aliou Cissé revealed that being a match against one of the African teams that has had the most impact in the world, it is very important for Senegal to win this game, as it will reinforce the recognition of this new generation of players. For this reason, the coach announced that he was not planning to make many changes to the team. We will see if he keeps his word.
Eleven Likely: A. Diallo – Gassama, Mbodji, K. Koulibaly, M’Bengue – Saivet, Kouyaté, I. Gueye, I.Sarr – M.Sow, S.Mané.
African Cup of Nations 2017For Algeria it is a game of everything or nothing, although the information that comes from the game between Tunisia and Zimbabwe can be fundamental to know what to count. A Tunisian advantage takes all hopes away from the Algerians, so if this information arrives, it is quite possible that the team will eventually demobilize. Given that Senegal have been particularly strong in the early stages of the matches, this time it will be up to Algeria to have that role, something not seen much in the games already played. It has been a real disappointment to see an Algerian team lacking in collective dynamics, highly dependent on the individual quality of their players, with Mahrez making it to the game on Matchday 1, scoring twice, and Slimani being the most fought- ) In their initiatives. The loss to Tunisia has made George Leekens’ work even more complicated, but it is understood how the Belgian coach is not getting into the head of his players, some of them eventually more worried about returning to their teams than to prolong The stay in Gabon. If there is not a miracle (which would be necessary to keep in evidence), Algeria will have had another participation in the CAN to forget.
Eleven Likely: Asselah – Meftah, Mandi, Cadamuro, Ghoulam – Guédioura, Bentaleb – Mahrez, Ghezzal, Brahimi – Slimani.
Since 2008 Senegal have not won a match against Algeria, underlining the importance of this meeting for the Senegalese. The most important game the national team played was a CAN semi-final in 1990, with a victory for the Algerians.
A game in which Algeria is forced to win, but where it is almost certain that this will not reach the qualifying. The news and options of Aliou Cissé may also make this goal unreachable. Senegal has been a much stronger team in this CAN.
Prediction: Senegal to win
Odds: 2.85
