AFCON 2023: Ambitious Guinea Aim to Tame the Lions

Guinea vs Senegal

Reigning AFCON champions Senegal are back in action on Tuesday when they meet Guinea in a top two clash in Group C.

The Lions of Teranga have won both their games so far and sit at the top of the group, while Guinea have won one and drawn one, an impressive stalemate with highly fancied Cameroon. Another point will see Guinea through to the last 16 where they can join their opponents who have already booked their place; and that makes AFCON 2023: Guinea vs Senegal a compelling fixture.     

The underdogs know that Senegal have not lost a competitive match in the last year, but Guinea don’t need a win; they just need a draw and they have every chance of getting that priceless point.

Talking Points

Guirassy’s time to shine 

The National Elephants are managed by Kaba Diawara and are captained by former Liverpool star Naby Keita, but the man SBOTOP fans know the most about is VfB Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy. He’s second only to Harry Kane in the race for the Bundesliga Golden Boot, having plundered a whopping 17 goals in 14 games during the first half of the season. He broke a Bundesliga record by racking up 13 goals in his first seven appearances when he scored a 15 minute hat-trick against Mainz, and Guirassy has become a hot property in the European transfer market. In the Premier League alone there is a clutch of clubs monitoring the player with West Ham United leading the way and Manchester United are also keen to land a top class striker in January.

Guirassy hasn’t appeared yet at AFCON, he has been nursing a knee injury and was an unused substitute as Aguibou Camara scoring the winner in Guinea’s last game against Gambia; but, along with Keita, he could be set to start in the biggest game of Guinea’s tournament so far.

In other Guinea vs Senegal news strikerFrancois Kamano is suspended after picking up a red card in the draw with Cameroon, and Guirassy may well line up alongside Le Havre forward Mohammed Bayo against Senegal.                

Senegal could rotate

With qualification in the bag Senegal manager Aliou Cisse has the chance to rest some of his key players and use his squad to the full in this match against Guinea. The Lions of Teranga won the battle of the heavyweights against Cameroon with goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diallo and Al Nassr star Sadio Mane, and that result gives the boss a chance to shuffle his pack.  

Cisse guided Senegal to their first ever AFCON win two years ago and he will be keen to be the first manager to lead a nation to back to back wins since 2010 when Egypt won their third title in a row. He wants his best players to be rested and ready for the knockout phase and he has the option of resting Mane, with Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson waiting in the wings. He has seven caps for the Lions of Teranga and is yet to score an international goal, but Jackson has made a good start with Chelsea, scoring seven goals so far in his first Premier League season.

Tottenham Hotspur star Papa Matar Sarr could make way for Everton man Idrissa Gueye, while Cheick Kouyate is also pushing for a start. Metz’ 20 year old attacking midfielder Lamine Camara has impressed, scoring two goals in the 3-0 win over Gambia and Cisse might look to give his young legs a rest too.  

This is a squad dripping with quality and, alongside Morocco, joint favourites to win the tournament. The competition for places is hot and that gives the Lions of Teranga a big advantage.     

History

Senegal have reached the finals on 17 occasions and were, of course, 2021 AFCON champions while Guinea’s best effort from their 14 appearances was a runners up place in the 1976 competition.

These two teams have met twice before, Senegal winning a five goal thriller back in AFCON 2006, and they played out a goalless draw in 2022.

Both teams come into the game in good form, Guinea have won three, drawn two and lost one of their last six games while Senegal have won five and drawn one.   

Betting Tip

The pre-match Guinea vs Senegal betting odds reckon Diawara’s team have a tough challenge ahead of them. Senegal are odds on, but only just, at a price of 1.97, with Guinea at 3.38 and the draw is 2.73.

With Guirassy likely to start and Senegal likely to rotate I think Guinea could well get the result they need; and I’m predicting goals…but not a flood!

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.