Date, Kick-off Time, and Venue:
Senegal will face Cameroon in a high-stakes encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, January 19, 2024. The match is scheduled to kick off at 5pm GMT at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.
Current Form and Previous Matches:
Senegal commenced their AFCON title defense in style with a convincing 3-0 victory over The Gambia, showcasing their prowess with goals from Pape Gueye and Lamine Camara. The Lions of Teranga are in excellent form, boasting an unbeaten run in their last five international matches, with a solid defensive record having kept clean sheets in six of their last seven encounters against Cameroon.
On the other hand, Cameroon faced a stumbling start in their opening Group A match against Guinea, salvaging a 1-1 draw after falling behind early. Missing key players like Andre Onana and captain Vincent Aboubakar, the Indomitable Lions are aiming to return to winning ways after securing just one victory in their last six fixtures.
Head-to-Head and Key Numbers:
In their 14 encounters across all competitions, Senegal holds a slight advantage with six wins compared to Cameroon’s five, while three matches ended in draws. Interestingly, 11 of these meetings witnessed fewer than 2.5 goals. The last meeting, an international friendly in October the previous year, saw Senegal emerge victorious with a 1-0 scoreline.
In AFCON-specific clashes, Cameroon holds a 3-1 lead in wins, though two victories were decided by penalties. Their recent history includes a goalless draw in the 2017 quarter-finals, emphasizing the closely contested nature of their matchups.
Prediction:
Senegal, riding on a wave of confidence, will aim to extend their defensive solidity and capitalize on their historical advantage. However, Cameroon, despite recent struggles, possesses a formidable AFCON record and is likely to pose a significant challenge.
Given their closely contested history, with only three goals scored in their last five encounters, a tight affair is anticipated. Both teams have strong defenses, and with so much at stake, a low-scoring encounter could be on the cards.