| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
GUINEA  Yattara Zayatte, Diallo, Kalabane, Camara Mansare, Constant, Sakho, Yattara Bangoura, Cisse | SENEGAL  CoundoulSane, Diawara, Sall, Traore Remi, Ndoye, Diame, Dia Niang, Sow |
Both teams are bound for the 2012 Afcon, after impressive qualifying campaigns that saw Senegal triumph in Group E at the expense of continental giants Cameroon and DR Congo, while the Group B underdogs Guinea stamped out one of the tournaments favourites, Nigeria, to make a comeback after they failed to reach the finals in 2010.
Under Frenchman Michel Dussuyer, the Syli National of Guinea have known some laudable reforms, with the inclusion of brilliant local talents and the restructuring of the team’s policy on foreign players, with the blessings of sports minister Titi Camara, the team’s former captain. Playing a robust Senegal team in the Mantes-la-Ville (France) friendly will help Dussuyer gauge the actual strength of his side and make up for the frailties ahead of the Afcon.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal have met Guinea many times in friendly and official games. Both sides know each other’s strength and weaknesses. Fortified with European-based strikers, Senegal are widely deemed as serious contenders for the 2012 Afcon title, which would be their first since they entered the competition in 1965.
Hopes are high back in Dakar for the Gabon-Equatorial Guinea 2012 tournament. Engaging the Syli National will give coach Amara Traore the chance to obliterate memories of the bitter 2-0 home loss against Morocco in August's friendly.
| DID YOU KNOW |
- Senegal have many African professionals plying their trade in Europe.
- Guinea played their first ever international match against Nigeria in 1960, which ended 4-1 in favour of the then Green Eagles.
- More than half of the Senegalese players play in the French Ligue 1, while half a dozen are in the Premier League.
- All the players with the name Camara in the Senegal national team are of Guinean decent.
Historically, the Syli National have always succumbed against the Teranga Lions. However, both teams’ ambitions are likely to cross paths in this meeting and alter the predictions.
Editor's Prediction
Senegal 2-1 Guinea
