Senegal vs Zimbabwe Predictions

• Senegal went unbeaten throughout their World Cup qualification group, winning five of their six games, scoring 15 goals and conceding four.
• Aliou Cisse’s team are the only African nation ranked amongst the world’s top 20 national teams.
• Zimbabwe failed to win a single game in a World Cup qualification group containing Ghana, South Africa, and Ethiopia, finishing bottom after netting just two goals in six games.

Senegal among AFCON contenders again

With a host of talent from top European clubs amongst their ranks, its easily to see why 2019 runners-up Senegal are amongst the favourites to win this year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Excluding penalty shootouts, Senegal are unbeaten in competitive football since a 3-1 loss to Morocco in October 2020, and shouldn’t face too many difficulties in topping Group B. Aliou Cisse’s men cruised through their group in the second round of World Cup Qualification, winning five and drawing one of their six fixtures, and scoring 15 goals in the process.

Monday’s opponents Zimbabwe are winless in their last seven games, scoring just two goals throughout that run. They drew 0-0 in a pre-tournament friendly with Sudan last week, and look unlikely to trouble Eduoard Mendy and company in their opening match, after scoring just twice in their own World Cup qualification group, finishing below Ethiopia.

Back Lions for a winning start

While Sadio Mane, Keita Balde and Ismaila Sarr rank as one of the most fearsome front threes on the continent, Senegal’s solid spine of Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Chekikhou Kouyate, and Idrissa Gueye gives them a great chance of ending the nation’s wait for a first-ever major trophy this winter.

Senegal only conceded two goals en route to their silver medal in 2019, and we’re backing them to open with a shutout victory against their toothless opponents. Senegal opened their 2019 campaign with a 2-0 win, and a repeat of that scoreline looks a good correct score punt.

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