Africa Cup of Nations Final: Senegal vs Algeria preview

Africa Cup of Nations Final: Senegal vs Algeria preview

The big final of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations is coming up on Friday evening, when Senegal will take on Algeria at Cairo International Stadium. The two teams have also met in the group stage of the competition and Algeria won that match 1-0 and finished at the top of Group C. The two sides played in the same group at the 2017 final tournament as well, and at that time the match ended 2-2, Senegal finished at the top of the group and Algeria failed to qualify. Overall, Algeria have won four of the last five direct matches and Senegal haven't beaten them since a World Cup qualifying match in 2008. 

Senegal had an almost perfect run at this year's Africa Cup of Nations, they had only one slip-up and that was right against Algeria. Apart from that match, Senegal kept a clean sheet though five matches at this tournament and won all those games. In the semi-finals they had a pretty tough encounter with Tunisia, quite a thriller considering that each of the two sides squandered a penalty kick. In the end the match was decided by an own-goal in extra time, which sent Senegal to their second Africa Cup of Nations final. The previous one, played in 2002, was lost on penalties against Cameroon. This final is made a bit more difficult for Senegal by the absence of their best defender, Kalidou Koulibaly is suspended. 

Algeria are still unbeaten at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, they breezed through the group stage with three wins, six goals scored and none conceded and then hammered Guinea 3-0 in the first knockout round. After that they had two very tough matches against Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals and Nigeria in the semi-finals, but they won both. It's true that the match against Ivory Coast was won on penalties, but their performance against Nigeria was very good and the match was won thanks to a superb stoppage-time goal from Manchester City star Ryiad Mahrez. Algeria have won this tournament just once, in 1990, and they lost another final in 1980. 

Probable line-ups: 

Senegal: Gomis - Gassama, Kouyate, Sane, Sabaly - Ndiaye, Saivet - Sarr, Gueye, Mane - Niang

Algeria: M'Bolhi - Zeffane, Mandi, Benlamri, Bensebaini - Guedioura - Mahrez, Feghouli, Bennacer, Belaili - Bounedjah

My prediction:

Algeria look like the stronger side, and Koulibaly's absence is a real blow for Senegal. I think Algeria will win this match, most likely 2-1. 

Here are the odds for the match at Bet365

Senegal win - 2.70

Draw - 2.90

Algeria win - 2.90

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