Senegal, the highest ranked Africa national side in the FIFA Coca Cola Ranking are highly fancied to qualify from a group that has Togo, Congo and Namibia. Senegal Coach Aliou Cisse will be hoping for a perfect start to their World Cup qualification campaign when they host the Hawks of Togo, who are the 36th best Africa national team at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar.
Senegal boast of some of the best African players plying their trade in Europe. Notable among them include, Liverpool Winger, Sadio Mane, Napoli Defender Kalidou Koulibaly, Chelsea Shot Stopper, Edouard Mendy and PSG Midfielder, Idrissa Gana Gueye. The Lions of Teranga will be wary of the fact that the last time they met Togo in a World Cup Qualification match, it ended 2:2 at the Stade Leopold Sedar Stadium and they know Coach Paulo Duarte’s side can give them a stiff opposition.
Though Togo could not qualify for the 2021 Afcon in Cameroon, the appointment of Paulo Duarte recently gives the Hawks a major boost ahead of the world cup qualifiers. The Portuguese has vast experience in the African game as he led Burkina Faso to a 3rd place finish in the 2017 AFCON championship in Gabon and will be looking for an early upset against a Senegal side that can boast of world beaters.
This is a game where many pundits predict a huge win for Senegal based on their strength. However, Togo can cause a stir in Dakar.
SENEGAL
probable line up(4 : 3 : 3 )
Edourd Mendy
Yousouf Sabaly
Kalidou Koulibaly
Cheik Kouyate
Moussa Wague
Krepin Diatta
Franck Kanoute
Pape Diop
Ismaila Sarr
Sadio Mane
Boulaye Dia
TOGO
Probable line up ( 4 : 4 : 2 )
Malcolm Barcola
Steve Lawson
Amatchoutchoul Kangnivi
Djene Dakonan
Loic Bessile
Gilles Sunu
Ihlas Bebou
Floyd Ayite
Mathieu Dossevi
Peniel Mlapa
Kadjo Laba