Senegal will be aiming to continue their perfect start to the 2023 AFCON qualifiers when they visit Estadio do Zimpeto on Tuesday to face off against Mozambique.
Meanwhile, the hosts will be looking to secure an immediate return to winning ways having suffered their first defeat of the qualifying campaign last time out.
Match preview
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Senegal delivered a real statement of intent as they put five past Mozambique in the teams' encounter at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Friday.
Youssouf Sabaly, Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye and Boulaye Dia netted in the opening half to send Aliou Cisse's men into the interval with a four-goal lead before Habib Diallo put the icing on the cake after Gildo Vilanculos had pulled one back earlier on.
Consequently, the Lions of Teranga sit top of Group L with nine points from a possible nine, opening up a five-point lead at the top of the pile.
The AFCON defending champions now set out to continue their unblemished record against an opposing outfit who have lost all of the previous six editions of this fixture.
Needing just three points from their final three outings to secure a place at the 2024 AFCON, Tuesday's visitors will be eager to complete the first step towards retaining their continental crown.
Mozambique kicked off 2023 with a three-match unbeaten run, but they have since been beaten in the subsequent three outings across all competitions.
Chiquinho Conde's men have let in a whopping nine goals in the aforementioned games, while finding the back of the net on only one occasion.
However, Os Mambas sit second in Group L, two points clear of Rwanda in the race for the final AFCON spot midway through the qualification journey.
Ahead of a crunch clash against their nearest challengers in June, Tuesday's hosts must secure a positive result in front of their fans, where they have not come out on top since 2021.
Team News
Having only just earned his maiden call-up to the Mozambique national team, goalkeeper Gion Chande was handed his full debut last time out.
Following his consolation strike against Senegal, Gildo Vilanculos has ended a one-year international goal drought and will now seek to score in back to back international matches for the first time ever.
Since returning from a brief injury layoff, Boulaye Dia has netted in each of his three starts for club and country, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Thirty-three-year-old Idrissa Gueye racked up his 100th international cap against Mozambique, which saw him usurp Senegal legend Henri Camara into top spot on the all-time appearances chart.
Mozambique possible starting lineup:
Chande; Langa, Zainadine, Mexer, Bauque; Kambala, Amadu; Witi, Domingues, Gildo; Ratifo
Senegal possible starting lineup:
Gomis; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Seck, Ndour; Sarr, Mendy, Gueye; Mane, Dia, Ndiaye
We say: Mozambique 0-2 Senegal
Senegal are one of only four teams with a 100% AFCON qualifying record so far and will back themselves to continue their fine run. While Tuesday's visitors may be unable to replicate their landslide victory from four days ago, we are backing them to get the job done once again.
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Top tip
Adepoju Marvellous
