SENEGAL take on Cape Verde in the last-16 of AFCON 2022, with Sadio Mane’s side one of the favourites to reach the final stages of the competition.
The Lions of Teranga have yet to lose a game this tournament but Cape Verde are sure to put up a very stern test.
- Start time: 4pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
- Live stream: Sky Go/NOW TV
- Senegal XI: Mendy, Ciss, Diallo, Koulibaly, Sarr, P. Gueye, Mendy, I. Gueye, Dia, Diedhiou, Mane.
- Cape Verde XI: Vozinha, S Fortes, Lopes, Stopira, J Fortes, Andrade, Tavares, Rocha Santos, Rodrigeus, Monteiro, Mendes.
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Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
5. Senegal play the corner short to Mane.
He looks for the oncoming run into the box like they have no doubt practiced over and over on the training ground.
The pass is easily cut out by the defence.
Back to the drawing board.
Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
3. Senegal are straight out of the blocks here.
In the opening minutes they are playing high-tempo, fast paced football looking to breach the Cape Verde defence early.
Aliou Cisse stands on the line getting his instructions across.
It seems strange to wear a face mask in such an open space.
I wonder if it is difficult getting his message across, mouth covered.
Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
1. Mane threads a pass from inside his own half down the left hand channel.
He continues his run into the box and is eventually found with a lay-off on the penalty spot.
He side-foots the effort with pace and it thunders back off the post.
The keeper was beaten.
Big chance.
Senegal 0 Cape Verde 0
1. And we are underway.
Senegal kick off.
Time to find out who wants to be in those quarter finals more.
Follow the leader
As the teams stream out of the tunnel and onto the pitch, they line up awaiting the national anthems.
Moments to go before another day of AFCON action……
First AFCON meeting
These two sides have never met in the tournament before.
They last met in a 2021 friendly, Senegal winning 2-0 with goals from Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane.
The first twenty minutes is going to be key for both sides for differing reasons.
Senegal drought
It has to be a worry for Aliou Cisse that his side has only scored one goal in three games so far at AFCON.
They have yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
If Mane is not firing, you wonder where the goals are going to come from.
No fear
‘Facing a team like Senegal is added motivation because the match is like a derby.’
Cape Verde manager, Pedro Brito
Cape Verde subs:
Monteiro Sanches Borges, Oliviera Borges, Varela Semedo, G Tavares, Brazao Sosa, dos Santos Rodrigues, Furtado, J Tavares, Kevin Sousa, Moreira Fernandes, Semedo Afonso, Spinola Lima.
Cape Verde team:
Vozinha, S Fortes, Lopes, Santos Tavares, J Fortes, Andrade, Rocha Santos, Tavares dos Santos, Rodrigues, Mendes, Alvarenga.
Senegal subs:
Dieng, Cisse, Balde Diao, H Diallo, Toure, Lopy, Dieng, P Sarr, Mbaye, Gomis, Name, Thiam.
Senegal team:
E Mendy, B Sarr, Koulibaly, A Diallo, Ciss, Dia, I Gueye, N Mendy, P Gueye, Diedhiou, Mane.
Lions roar
Having won the silver medal in the 2019 AFCON tournament, the Teranga Lions will be looking to go one better this time out.
Senegal have won 3 out of 4 knockout games they have played at AFCON.
Their only defeat coming in the final against Algeria.
Shark-infested waters
Cape Verde beat ten-man Ethiopia in their opening group game 1-0.
Defeat to Burkina Faso (1-0) was followed by a draw with Cameroon (1-1) to go through as one of the highest ranked third-place teams.
The Blue Sharks will feel they have nothing to lose with Senegal firm favourites.
Favourites faultering
As the bookies’ favourite to win the tournament, Senegal have failed to impress so far.
Sadio Mane’s 97th minute penalty gave the Teranga Lions a slender win against Zimbabwe in their opening game.
Two goalless draws against Guinea and Malawi then followed.
Despite their performances, Senegal topped their group with five points.
Welcome back AFCON fans
The round of 16 has not failed to entertain us.
Two days of football has already decided two of the quarter finals.
- Gambia vs Cameroon (4pm)
- Burkina Faso vs Tunisia (7pm)
Time to find out who is going to join them there.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
