ahmed saad
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
LIBYA  AboudBerrish, Salama, Shibani, Aboubaker Mohamed Esnani, Saad, Belreesh Boussifi, Zuway | SENEGAL  CoundoulMbengue, Diawara, Mangane, Sane Diame, Ndaw, Ndoye, Dia Ba, Cisse |
Standing in the Mediterranean Knights’ way will be a Senegalese side that has already been eliminated due to successive shock losses to the Chipolopolo and the Nzalang Nacional.
Marcos Paqueta’s team did well to twice take the lead against Zambia through Ahmed Osman Saad's brace but this time they will need to do a better job conserving any advantage if they are to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stages. Midfielder Walid Al Khatroushi left that encounter with an injury and may have to miss out on this one.
For the west Africans, this match will be about trying to save face after a heartbreaking last-second loss to the co-hosts in Bata and an early elimination that hardly anyone predicted.
With the team already out, the question is whether the lack of pressure will have a negative or positive effect on their play. Senegal were much better in their second game but an inability to translate chances into goals despite an enviable strike force was ultimately their undoing.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Senegal have not won a game at the Afcon since 2006 when they defeated Zimbabwe 2-0.
- Teranga Lions coach Amara Traore had “no explanation” for Senegal’s shock exit and, according to some sources, added that his team needed to shoo away "the black cat" which seems to be following them.
- Libya historically have the upper hand on the Teranga Lions, having beaten them twice in their history. They have also drawn once and lost once against Sunday's opponents.
- Former Senegal international El Hadji Diouf did not mince his words regarding the Lions’ exit, putting the blame squarely on Traore’s shoulders.
- The only time when Libya have previously it to the second round of the Afcon was in 1982 when they hosted the competition and made it all the way to the final.
With nothing to play for but the respect of their countrymen back home, one expects that Senegal will finally get a win and Libya may not have enough left in the tank to overhaul Zambia in order to qualify.
Editor's Prediction
Libya 1-2 Senegal 
