2019 AFCON Day Of Glory: Senegal Go For Broke Against Algeria

BY EDMOND ODOK – The Teranga Lions of Senegal are seeking redemption against their North African opponents, Desert Foxes of Algeria in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final holding today in Egypt.

The West African nation’s huge aspiration is to capture the elusive continental diadem for the first time in its football history.

On their part, the Coach Djamel Belmadi’s men are upbeat with excitement as they seek to end a 29-year wait for success at Africa’s prized tournament. The Algerians only continental triumph was in 1990 when as the host nation, they defeated Nigeria 1-0 in the final match.

So this Friday night inside the Cairo International Stadium, both countries are set for a ‘no retreat; no surrender’ clash in the championship final match.

Drawn together in the Group stage, the Desert Foxes churned out a 1-0 victory and that loss to the impressive North Africans remains Senegal’s only blight in the competition.

Lions’ Head Coach Aliou Cisse, who believes his side has grown in mental toughness and strength since their Group C defeat, said; “The defeat to Algeria in the group stage made us come back stronger. Our players are very good and are now ready.”

“It’s football and the defeat against Algeria in the group stage is past now. We respect them much but we have to say our word loud. It’s the final so it’s complicated, but simply we just want to win.”

Coach Cisse, a former Senegalese National team captain, expects a tight encounter in Cairo, given the quality both sides possess.

According to him, “There’s no big difference between both teams. Final is about small details. There’s stress and pressure, and these details make the difference. But in the end, African football is the winner.”

However, the odds favour the Algerians to emerge victorious as the Senegalese are winless against Desert Foxes in their confrontations at the Africa Cup of Nations.

They have failed to defeat the North Africans in their four previous encounters.

Overall head-to-head, both countries have met 22 times down the years, with Algeria sealing victory on 12 occasions. Their dominance is bolstered by six draws and just four Senegal victories in that time.

This match will draw the curtains on the 32nd edition of the competition that witnessed an increase in the number from 16 to 24 participating teams.