STAR PREVIEW: Senegal v Algeria

There has been plenty of drama in this African Cup of Nations and the final between Senegal and Algeria could be another very tight encounter. The two have already met, when Algeria beat Senegal to clinch a place in the last 16, in a game which was nervy and controversial, as the two sides cancelled each other out to a degree. Sadio Mane was unfortunate not to win a penalty when he was sandwiched by Adlene Guedioura and Ramy Bensebaini with 20 minutes to go, a decision which did not go to VAR, as it wasn’t implemented in the tournament until the quarter-final stage.

However, the Algerians probably deserved their victory, which came thanks to having a more balanced lineup that allowed them to settle into their rhythm much quicker than Senegal. The Senegalese missed Idrissa Gueye from their starting lineup, but there was only one goal in it at the end of their first meeting and it’s unlikely much will separate the pair at the end of this game.

Senegal went on to beat Benin 1-0 in a much better performance when Gueye scored the winning goal (and Mane had two different goals disallowed), and eventually edging past Tunisia, having dominated the first half before winning in extra time in a hugely dramatic semi-final when both sides missed penalties. That win also came at a cost – in the shape of Kalidou Koulibaly’s suspension, meaning they are without their first-choice centre-backs as they lost his partner Salif Sane to injury in the opening game.

Senegal v Algeria
Africa Cup of Nations 2019 Final
20:00 Eurosport 2HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches, past 10 years*)
JUN 2019 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP Senegal 0-1 Algeria
JAN 2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP Algeria 1-0 Senegal
OCT 2015 FRIENDLY Algeria 1-0 Senegal
JAN 2015 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP Senegal 0-2 Algeria
SEP 2008 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING Algeria 3-2 Senegal
MAY 2008 WORLD CUP QUALIFIYING Senegal 1-0 Algeria

Algeria’s route to the final was just as dramatic, with a penalty shootout against the Ivory Coast followed by a 2-1 win over Nigeria when Riyad Mahrez scored a stunning free-kick with what was virtually the last kick of the game.

It’s clear that not much separates these teams here. Two of the last four finals have gone to penalties, and the other two were wins by a single goal – with Cameroon scoring in the 88th minute to steal victory from Egypt. Two sides who are so evenly matched have every chance of being inseparable again and the 15/2 that either side wins on penalties could be a value option here, along with the draw.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)
BACK Senegal to win on penalties 1 pt at 15/2 with starsports.bet
BACK Algeria to win on penalties 1 pt at 15/2 with starsports.bet
BACK Draw 2 pts at 15/8 with starsports.bet

---

PROFIT/LOSS SINCE JAN 1 2017: PROFIT 182.17 points
(excluding Ryan Sidebottom Ashes bet, Tour De France, Blue Horseshoe Open Preview)