Event favourites Senegal face Benin on Tuesday night as Group D concludes on the Africa Cup of Nations, with either side nicely positioned to achieve the knockout phases on the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier.
Benin come into the fixture on a historic excessive after claiming their first-ever AFCON finals victory, edging Botswana 1-0 on Saturday, whereas Senegal confirmed their qualification with a hard-fought 1-1 draw towards DR Congo.
That victory adopted a slim 1-0 defeat to DR Congo of their opening Group D fixture, the place Theo Bongonda’s early strike proved sufficient to separate the perimeters.
Head coach Gernot Rohr will take encouragement from his facet’s organisation and self-discipline to this point in Morocco, with continuity in choice doubtless as Benin put together to face opponents with considerably better match pedigree.
Traditionally, the Cheetahs have discovered Senegal a tough opponent, recording only one win of their first assembly again in 1961, alongside two attracts and 7 defeats since.
Senegal enter the ultimate group fixture with 4 factors from two matches and are nicely positioned to advance to the spherical of 16.
The 2021 champions opened their marketing campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Botswana, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice, earlier than following that up with a 1-1 draw towards DR Congo, the place Sadio Mane netted the equaliser after Senegal fell behind early.
With skilled figures similar to Mane, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye within the squad, Senegal stay among the many main contenders to carry the trophy.
Staff information for Benin v Senegal
Benin strategy the fixture with a largely settled squad, although Andreas Hountondji stays unavailable after declining a call-up as a consequence of a persistent thigh harm.
Rohr made a number of adjustments following the opening defeat to DR Congo, with Marcel Dandjinou, Olaitan Junior, Tidjani Mohamed and Steve Mounie getting back from suspension to start out towards Botswana. An analogous lineup is anticipated as Benin prioritise stability.
Senegal even have most of their squad out there, although Ismaila Sarr stays a health concern after being withdrawn early towards DR Congo as he continues to get better from an ankle ligament harm.
Thiaw is anticipated to depend on his established core, with Mendy, Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Jackson and Mane all more likely to begin if absolutely match, whereas Idrissa Gueye and Pape Gueye ought to anchor midfield.
Anticipated line-ups for Benin v Senegal
Benin: Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tidjani, Roche; D’Almeida, Dodo, Imourane, Tosin, Olaitan; Mounie
Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Jakobs; I. Gueye, P. Gueye, I. Ndiaye; I. Sarr, Mane, Jackson
How one can watch Benin v Senegal: TV channel, on-line stream
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:00 GMT (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). Within the UK, dwell AFCON 2025 protection is on Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel. Within the USA, beIN Sports activities is the match broadcaster.
On-line dwell streaming is out there on an unlimited vary of units by way of Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports activities app.
The stats for Benin v Senegal
• Benin claimed their first-ever AFCON finals win towards Botswana on matchday two
• Benin have scored one purpose in every of their two Group D matches
• Benin have misplaced simply one among their final three AFCON matches
• Senegal are unbeaten of their final eight matches in all competitions
• Senegal have scored in seven of their final eight matches
• Senegal have conceded simply as soon as in two AFCON group video games
• Senegal have gained seven of their final ten conferences with Benin
• Senegal have reached the knockout phases in every of their final 4 AFCON appearances
Prediction
Each side are more likely to strategy this fixture with warning, realizing that avoiding defeat might be sufficient to safe development relying on outcomes elsewhere.
A draw would transfer Senegal onto 5 factors and assure qualification, whereas Benin may additionally advance as the most effective third-placed groups based mostly on their factors whole.
