Senegal (FIFA #22) entertain Tanzania (FIFA #131) in their first match of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019, and come into the tournament on a run of six consecutive wins in all competitions, conceding just once in that sequence.
Big favorites in this match, the ‘Teranga-Lions’ (SEN) haven’t lost against African opposition in 12 games (W10, D2). They kept a clean sheet in nine of those games but scored more than twice in only two of those matches.
In only their second-ever AFCON (first 1980), Tanzania has a big mountain to climb against FIFA’s highest-ranked African nation, especially on the back of just three wins in their last 19 games (W3, D8, L8).
Those three victories did arrive in the last eight matches (W3, D2, L3) however, and were all against higher-ranked nations. Furthermore, they scored two or more in each win while keeping a clean sheet.
Perhaps highlighting a battling quality, Tanzania leveled after conceding first in each of their last four goal-scoring draws, and in their last two defeats to see both teams score.
Players to watch: Idrissa Gueye scored a first-half winner for Senegal in their last match, and his last two international goals were both scored in exactly the 18th minute! Meanwhile, Simon Msuva scored the first half-opener in each of Tanzania’s last two wins.
Stat attack: Five of Senegal’s last six wins saw them win at least one half by a 1-0 scoreline.
Four of Senegal’s last five wins came via a one-goal margin, three with a 1-0 scoreline.
Seven of Tanzania’s last eight matches saw at least one team fail to score.
Only two of Tanzania’s last eight games produced over 2.5 goals in total.
Match Information
Venue: 30 June Stadium (Cairo)