Algeria should be considered favourites for cagey AFCON final vs Senegal

Tonight marks the conclusion of the last major international tournament of the summer as Senegal take on Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

It’s the former that entered the tournament among the favourites and remain - albeit very marginally - the bookies choice to land the trophy.

However, these two sides have already met in Egypt this summer, with Algeria the victors in what was a pretty cagey affair. In fact, there were just twenty shots in total between the two sides, with winger Youcef Belaili scoring the only goal of the game shortly after the break.

Under the guidance of former Southampton midfielder and Algeria international Djamel Belmadi, who took the job this time last year, a national team that had flattered to deceive in the past is beginning to realise its potential.

Having failed to qualify for the World Cup despite boasting a squad with some notable attacking talent in particular, the Desert Foxes were at a low ebb. They crashed out of the AFCON in Gabon two years ago at the group stage and it was an unhappy camp overseen by five different managers in the space of four years.

To say Belmadi has steadied the ship would be an understatement, with the team winning ten and losing just one of his fifteen matches in charge to date. That record has fired the nation to their first AFCON final in almost thirty years, when they would lift the trophy for the first and only time to date on home soil.

Senegal, meanwhile, have never been crowned champions but approached this summer’s tournament as the favourites of many owing to what most would consider their golden generation.

Captain Sadio Mane is the star, but there is major top-flight and European experience and strength throughout the squad. Unfortunately for Aliou Cisse, however, he will be without perhaps his most important player in the form of Kalidou Koulibaly, cruelly ruled out due to suspension having picked up yellow cards in two of three knockout games.

First choice keeper Edouard Mendy is injured too, though Alfred Gomis has proven an extremely able deputy in his absence.

Algeria aren’t without there own big loss through injury either, it should be said, with young right-back Youcef Atal sidelined having shone prior to his withdrawal in the quarter-finals.

That would prove to be the only match Algeria have not won inside 90 minutes, instead requiring penalties against Ivory Coast. It was also the match in which they conceded their first goal of the tournament - courtesy of Jonathan Kodjia - which remains the only strike that Belmadi’s men have shipped that didn’t come from the penalty spot.

For that reason, coupled with the firepower in the squad - the likes of Yacine Brahimi, Adam Ounas, Andy Delort and Islam Slimani have all had to make do with watching briefs in the main part - Algeria will certainly fancy their chances.

Senegal haven’t exactly been firing on all cylinders after all, despite a more favourable route to this stage. Main man Mane has three goals to his name but the Lions have managed just a solitary goal in each of their knockout phase matches thus far, the last of which came in the form of a Tunisia own goal in extra time.

The odds on the over 2.5 goal line are huge as a result, with William Hill pricing up at an incredible 3.25 on three or more goals inside 90 minutes. Goals AFCON finals are hard to come by after all, with Cameroon’s 2-1 win over Egypt two years ago representing the first final in seven that had seen more than one goal - extra time included - let alone two.

In a game that means so much - Mane has claimed he would trade his Champions League winners medal for the African crown - nerves get the better of even the very best.

For that reason, while all eyes will be on the two captains - with Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez wearing the armband for Algeria - the midfield battle in front of the defence will be pivotal to a game that is all but certain to be a tight and cagey affair.

While relatively modest, a best price of 2.34 on under 1.5 goals from Marathon Bet is our tip for tonight’s clash in Cairo.