2019 AFCON: Senegal, Algeria face off in historic final- Match Preview

Hunting their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy, Senegal take on 1990 winners Algeria after a series of tight tournament games that saw only one team score in each of Senegal’s six AFCON fixtures, with five producing under 2.5 goals, and four finishing by a 1-0 scoreline (W3, L1 – including extra-time).

Don’t be fooled by that low-scoring nature though. The 2002 AFCON runners-up have attracted plenty of drama, with five penalties awarded – four of them missed – and two red cards across their last four games alone.

Algeria enter this final unbeaten in the tournament, winning every match in 90 minutes except a victory on penalties in the quarter-finals. Their quick-starting displays have seen them lead at half-time in five of their six AFCON fixtures – the last three by a 1-0 scoreline – albeit the only one they didn’t, was against Senegal during the group stage (0-0 half-time).

The ‘Desert Warriors’ have also seen an average of 2.0 total yellow cards before half-time this tournament, so early drama could be possible here. Furthermore, with Algeria witnessing a penalty in their last two fixtures, and an average of 2.57 total goals being scored across the seven competitive H2Hs played since the turn of the century, this game has the makings of a must-watch final.

Players to watch: Despite missing two penalties, Sadio Mané(SEN) remains in the running for the Golden Boot with three goals. Algeria’s Riyad Mahrezalso has three – two came as last goalscorer.

Stat attack: Of the goals Senegal have conceded since the beginning of 2018, 72.73% arrived after half-time.

Algeria have opened the scoring in nine of their previous 11 AFCON tournament fixtures – the two they didn’t, were the only two they lost during that period.

Both teams have scored in exactly half of the historical competitive H2Hs