The State of Play
Senegal are heading into the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations as defending champions but there is a hint of sadness around this squad with it potentially the final tournament for the vast majority of their ‘golden generation’. It is unclear how long the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gueye will continue to play international football but there will be a view that this is one last hurrah under the management of Aliou Cisse.
A couple of years ago, Gambia played at their first ever Africa Cup of Nations and they performed well by reaching quarter-finals, eventually losing to hosts Cameroon. They have a fair bit of pedigree in their squad with the likes of Omar Colley, Saidy Janko, Albie Jallow and Musa Barrow all a part of the team in the Ivory Coast. Getting through the group stages would once again be viewed as a success for the Gambians.
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Team News
In their final warm-up match before the tournament, the Senegalese played a three-at-the-back system and rested the likes of Sadio Mane and Idrissal
a Gueye. Whilst the back three is expected to be named again, perhaps to cover for the waning pace of Kalidou Koulibaly, both Gueye and Mane, as well as Nicolas Jackson, are expected to come into the starting eleven.
Gambia fielded two central defenders in the middle of midfield in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast in November and whilst it didn’t necessarily have the desired impact as they were beaten 2-0, another low block with a defensive setup is to be expected in this opening match as they attempt to limit the defending champions’ space and time on the ball.
Expected Line-ups
Senegal: Mendy; Koulibaly, Jakobs, Diallo; Diatta, P.Gueye, I.Gueye, Niakhate; Mane; Ndiaye, Jackson
Gambia: Jobe; Janko, Sanneh, Colley, Mendy; Jallow, Adams, Sonko Sundberg, Ngum, Fadera; Barrow
What they Said
The big question mark for Senegal ahead of this tournament has been the fitness of Salernitana forward, Boulaye Dia, but Aliou Cisse remains intent on his importance to the side: “If he is there, it’s because he is ready. I am sure that he will be available before our first match against Gambia.”
Gambian coach, Tom Saintfiet, has spoke after the side were on an aborted flight leaving Banjul, describing the fact that they are ‘still in shock’. “After a few minutes, it was very hot in the plane. We all fell asleep because there was a lack of oxygen – some of the players couldn’t be woken up. The pilot noticed and we had to return.” Saintfiet suggested that the ‘whole team would have died’ had the flight gone ‘for another 30 minutes’.
When and How to Watch
The game at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium will kick off at 14:00 on Monday January 15th and will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK. Subscribers to Sky Sports can alternately stream the game online via the ‘Sky Go’ app.
Prediction
The Senegalese are currently African champions and they remain one of, if not the, strongest side on the African continent. The world number 20 team, according to FIFA, grinded their way to the triumph a couple of years ago with two goalless draws and a 97th minute winning penalty against Zimbabwe in the group stages before making their way through the knockouts. They face a Gambian side that will be stubborn and attempt to make themselves difficult to beat so, whilst Senegal are expected to win, a game with fewer than three or four goals is also very likely.
