Senegal will begin their Africa Cup of Nations campaign by playing Gambia at Charles Konan Banny Stadium. Stay up-to-date with all the action live by tuning into LiveStream!
Lions of Teranga took an early lead behind Lamine Camara’s double against an undermanned Gambia side who finished with just 10 players on their side. In this article, we will discuss about the matches of Senegal National Football Team vs Gambia National Football Team Lineups.
1. Edouard Mendy
Aliou Cisse’s Teranga Lions will enter this match as clear favorites despite recent roster shuffles and changes. Their 4-3-3 formation has proven effective for eight of their 11 matches this year and should provide Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Sadio Mane with plenty of chances to attack in attack-minded environments like this game.
Gambia are outsiders in Group C, boasting the lowest ranking. After their trip to Cote d’Ivoire where their plane ran out of oxygen on landing and players reported near-death experiences during landing, Tom Saintfiet’s side will go into Yamoussoukro without fear or worry and it could work in their favour.
2. Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly, captain of Senegal national football team and centre back for Napoli in Serie A, has been sidelined with injuries this season but is expected to make his comeback soon.
He has scored two goals and made 27 appearances across all competitions this season for the club, scoring twice while making five clearances and winning four tackles in his most recent match, a 1-0 defeat against Wolves.
Senegal’s national football team, Les Lions de Teranga, have competed internationally since 1960 under the auspices of the Senegalese Football Federation and have proven themselves among one of Africa’s premier sides with numerous historic upsets in major tournaments.
At three FIFA World Cups, Peru have yet to make it past the quarter-finals. Their best performance came in 2002, when they upset reigning champion France in their opening match of the tournament and thus managed to upset reigning world champions France.
3. Krepin Diatta
Krepin Diatta is an impressive central defender who can play either position. At Manchester City, he displays outstanding aerial prowess, anticipation, positioning, tackling and character. Strong yet aggressive in approach but capable of making accurate passes in the final third of the pitch.
Sadio Mane, one of the world’s prolific goal scorers and an outstanding performer at last AFCON for Senegal. An experienced leader and highly effective defender against set pieces.
The Teranga Lions have named six Premier League players to their 27-man squad for their upcoming tournament, featuring Nottingham Forest duo Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate from Nottingham Forest; Fulham defender Fode Ballo-Toure; Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr; Everton winger Idrissa Gueye of Everton as well as Middlesbrough goalkeeper Seny Dieng and Rangers forward Abdallah Sima among them.
4. Pape Gueye
In 2021, Teranga won their inaugural AFCON title by defeating Mohamed Salah’s Egypt on penalties in the final. Since then they have experienced some issues at recent tournaments but Pape Gueye remains one of their veteran players, making him a strong favourite to reach the semi-finals and win again.
Gueye has become an integral member of Aliou Cisse’s Senegal side since taking charge as manager, his defensive-minded style perfectly matching their team of attacking players. Idrissa Gana Gueye and Cheikhou Kouyate play important roles for Aliou Cisse; Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Fulham defender Fode Ballo-Toure also contribute heavily.
The Lions of Teranga have won their three group matches unbeaten so far, defeating Gambia and Cameroon with ease. But they face an uphill task against Guinea’s Indomitable Lions who tied with Guinea last Friday but must win both remaining games to have any chance at progression.
5. Habib Diallo
Senegal are currently reigning African Champions and begin their title defence against Gambia at Yamoussoukro’s Charles Konan Banny Stadium this Saturday night. Senegal are expected to make an impressionful statement early on during Group C opening day and hope to make a markful statement with victory against Gamia.
Senegal continues to control play as Camara is booked for pulling down a runner in the box as Senegal dominates. Senegal have reduced their pace slightly while Gambia cannot muster up much of a threat.
Both sides are taking a water break to help cope with the intense heat in Yamoussoukro. Players, particularly on Gambia’s right wing, appear to be struggling under conditions that make play tough for them; Moussa Niakhate appears to be experiencing some sort of injury and his replacement Assan Ceesay doesn’t offer much creativity either. Time is running out for Gambia who are now out of options; in order for any hope of reaching quarter-finals they need at least one point from Cameroon in their next matchup against Cameroon next match-up in Yamoussoukro.
6. Lamine Camara
Senegal have impressed in their Group C opener against Iran with an outstanding defensive display and early goal from Pape Gueye to take charge. Camara was cautioned late in the first half after pulling back a runner back but that did not detract from their impressive showing against an early favourite team like Iran.
The Lions of Teranga boast an arsenal of world-class attacking and defensive players such as Kalidou Koulibaly (Clermont), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea FC) and Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest). Sadio Mane leads their goal scoring efforts with over 100 international goals while Moussa Niakhate may add to that total against Guinea on Monday in another crucial clash; Cameroon are another strong contender looking for their fourth straight championship victory.
7. Sadio Mane
Sadio Mane could make his return from injury for Senegal in this matchup against Senegal. The Liverpool midfielder is an integral member of Teranga Lions squad and has appeared at every African Cup of Nations tournament since 2010. Additionally, two years ago Sadio led them in reaching quarter-final of Nations Cup before losing against Cameroon.
Tom Saintfiet’s side face a difficult group, yet they could prove formidable opponents. After making history by qualifying for the tournament, they boast a squad full of strikers such as Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis) and Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal) defenders; midfielders Lamine Camara (Metz), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea).
8. Ismaila Sarr
The Lions of Teranga will aim to claim five consecutive opening day wins at AFCON 2018. Their coach Tom Saintfiet has assembled an intimidating line-up featuring players from the French and Saudi leagues such as defenders from Metz and Marseille as well as midfielders from Lorient and Al Hilal.
Pape Gueye and Lamine Camara scored in each half for the defending champions, who are expected to go all the way again this time around. While technical issues hampered fans watching from abroad, Charles Konan Banny Stadium fans at home applauded as they saw their team take an impressive 3-0 victory to begin this tournament on an excellent note.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr has recovered from injury to make the starting lineup, alongside Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson and Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye. Liverpool FC Sadio Mane also joins Senegal on their bench; Redouane Jiyed from Morocco will serve as match referee.
9. Musa Barrow
Musa Barrow, from Gambia, currently plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al Taawoun and for Gambia National Team. Prior to this he previously represented Birmingham City and Portsmouth Football clubs.
The Lions of Teranga are among the favorites at AFCON 2023, having advanced all the way to the final two years ago where they lost on penalties to Egypt. Captained by Kalidou Koulibaly, they will hope for better this time around and hope to break past Egyptian hearts this time round.
This squad consists of six Premier League-based players currently registered, such as Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson and Fulham defender Fode Ballo-Toure from Fulham as well as Tottenham midfielder Pape Matar Sarr and Nottingham Forest duo Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate who both play for Nottingham Forest. If any of these players reach the final, a new rule implemented by Confederation of African Football (CAF) increasing maximum squad size from 23 to 27 will prevent them from returning for Premier League matches due to increased squad size requirements for participating clubs.
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