Senegal looking to make winning start at AFCON 2021

Aliou Cisse (R), head coach of Senegal

Saturday Jan 08, 2022. 15:00

Senegal begin their quest for a first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title when they take on Zimbabwe at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam on Monday, January 10.

Kick-off is at 3pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

The Lions of Teranga are one of the tournament favourites, boasting a squad chock-full of players from Europe’s best leagues and they’re expected to finish top of Group B, which also consists of Guinea and Malawi.

Aliou Cisse guided the West African giants to the AFCON 2019 final, where they lost 1-0 to Algeria, finishing runners-up for the second time in their history.

Cisse’s side will be determined to go one better in Cameroon and they kick off their campaign against a Southern African outfit that recorded just one win in 2021.

The Warriors qualified for the African showpiece as runners-up to the defending champions in their group, but have since struggled for results.

The majority of Norman Mapeza’s squad ply their trade on the continent, with just eight of them playing abroad and only Lyon striker Tino Kadewere featuring in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

The two nations have only met three times before, with the Senegalese emerging victorious on each occasion, most recently winning 2-1 in the COSAFA Cup on 13 July 2021.