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As one of the leading sides on the African continent, Senegal will be looking to assert their dominance in this one as they face one of the weakest sides in this stage of CAF qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Malawi.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 11th October, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – beIN Sports streaming platforms
SENEGAL PREVIEW: ALIOU CISSE’S SENEGAL
Former Birmingham City and Portsmouth defensive midfielder Aliou Cisse remains in charge of the Senegalese national team. They did win the 2021 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 and also reached the knockout stages of the 2022 FIFA World Cup later that year.
The Senegalese have underperformed somewhat ever since then with a potential stagnation within the spine of their squad. They do come into this one, though, on the back of a 1-0 win over Burundi that means they are unbeaten in six matches since the 2023 AFCON this year.
MALAWI PREVIEW: POOR MALAWI
Coached by former U20 coach Patrick Mabedi, the Malawian national football team are currently ranked 133rd in the world according to FIFA. ‘The Flames’, as they are nicknamed, have improved a little bit in the last half a decade or so.
Malawi come into this one on the back of a tough start to 2025 AFCON qualification as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Burundi last month before then suffering a defeat to Burkina Faso by three goals to one.
SENEGAL TEAM NEWS: DAD’S ARMY
It is a very experienced Senegal squad at the moment that still consists of the likes of Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane. They do have one injury doubt with defender Abdoulaye Seck potentially sidelined for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): E. Mendy; F. Mendy, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Jakobs; Camara, P. Gueye, I. Gueye; Sarr, Jackson, Mane
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Seck (Injured)
MALAWI TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT
Malawi do have a fully fit and available squad with no injury concerns or suspension issues ahead of this one against Senegal. Their key men in attack are all quite young with six of their seven forwards aged 22 or under.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Chikooka; Sanudi, Chaziya, Mwase, Chester; Aaron, Idana, Nkhoma; Chembezi, Mphasi, Kaonga
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SENEGAL VS MALAWI PREDICTION
Senegal have struggled to blow any sides away in the last 12-18 months or so with their squad becoming quite structured and almost a little too structured at the moment. The 2021 AFCON winners are struggling to find fluency despite their quality in attack. Malawi have conceded three goals in each of their opening couple of qualifiers, though, so the blunt Senegalese should be able to find their way to a couple of goals in this one.
SENEGAL VS MALAWI TIP: SENEGAL TO WIN -1 HANDICAP