Benin vs Senegal: Match preview, head-to-head, team news, predicted line-ups, prediction

Senegal face Benin in a crunch Africa Cup of Nations fixture at Grand Stade de Tanger on Tuesday evening.

The Teranga Lions dug deep to claim a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their last game.

Benin claimed a 1-0 victory over Botswana, marking their first win in the competition and putting them just one point adrift of Senegal.

Match preview

Senegal sit joint-top of Group D with four points and need at least a draw to secure a place in the knockout stages.

Pape Thiaw’s side have netted four times and produced a 6.67 expected goals (xG) — a group high for both metrics — and have conceded just once.

Senegal enjoyed total control throughout in their opening fixture against Botswana, who they beat 3-0, but they could not replicate the same against DR Congo.

Senegal will look to wrap up the group stage with a victory, knowing that qualification for the round of 16 is yet to be guaranteed.

Benin began their campaign with a controversial 1-0 defeat to DR Congo, before saving their qualification hopes with a victory over bottom-placed Botswana.

Gernot Rohr’s side asserted their dominance in the first half against Botswana but were unable to sustain the control after the break.

Benin need a much-improved performance to prevent a defeat against a superior Teranga Lions side.

Head-to-head

Both sides have met three times at AFCON, with Senegal winning two and the other ending in a draw.

Team news

Senegal and Benin have a clean bill of health ahead of their Tuesday meeting.

Predicted line-ups

Senegal (4-2-3-1): Edouard Mendy, Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs, Pape Gueye, Idrissa Gueye, Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson.

Benin (4-3-3): Marcel Dandjinou, Yohan Roche, Olivier Verdon, Mohamed Tijani, Tamimou Ouorou, Dodo Dokou, Sessi D’Almeida, Imourane Hassane, Junior Olaïtan, Steve Mounie, Aiyegun Tosin.

Prediction

We expect Senegal to claim a 3-0 victory.

Stats from 11v11.com & whoscored.com