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For the 14th time in history, Burkina Faso and Senegal will face each other in top-level football. The challenge is worth a place in the final at the African Cup of Nations between two opponents who, in the last precedents of 2017, both valid for the 2018 World Cup race, drew 0-0 and 2-2, respectively. Burkina Faso won the qualification for this semi-final by beating Tunisia 1-0 in the previous round thanks to the goal scored by Dango Ouattara of Lorient, who, however, will not be available because he is disqualified.
The coach also has to deal with the injuries of the starting goalkeeper, Koffi, and of Dayo and Bertrand Traoré, all in less than perfect conditions. Senegal, led by coach Aliou Cissé, instead overwhelmed Equatorial Guinea 3-1 thanks to goals from Alanyaspor’s Famara Diédhiou, Crystal Palace’s Cheikhou Kouyaté and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr. At risk is the presence of Seck for physical reasons.
Form Guide
Burkina Faso DLWDDW
Burkina Faso will be hoping to replicate their 1-0 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Tunisia.
In the game, Burkina Faso had 39 percent possession and 10 shots on goal, five of which were on target. Burkina Faso scored through Dango Faissal Ouattara (45′). Tunisia had ten shots on goal against them, three of which were on target.
According to their most recent performance, the Burkina Faso backline can’t do much more. Burkina Faso has been ruthless on defense, conceding four goals in their last six games.
Senegal WWDDWD
Senegal is coming off a 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Equatorial Guinea in their most recent match.
In the game, Senegal had 44 percent possession and 11 shots on goal, five of which were on target. Famara Diédhiou (28′), Cheikhou Kouyaté (68′), and Ismala Sarr (79′) scored for Senegal. Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, had seven shots on goal, two of which were on target. Equatorial Guinea scored through Buyla (57′).
A very low number of goals have been scored between Senegal and opponents in six of the last six encounters. During that time, the average number of goals per game was just 1.17.
Injured and suspended
Burkina Faso: (Ouattara)
Senegal: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns.
Burkina Faso vs Senegal Predicted XI
Burkina Faso Predicted XI: Koffi; Kabore, Tapsoba, Ouattara, Yago; Nikiema, Guira, Sangare; Bande, Ouattara, Traore
Senegal Predicted XI: E Mendy; Sarr, Koulibaly, A Diallo, Ciss; Kayoute, N Mendy, I Gueye; Diedhiou, Dia, Mane
Senegal are the most favored team to go through and have what it takes to unlock the match first. At least one goal has always been scored in the first half of every game between Burkina Faso and their rivals, and it is for this reason that we are encouraged to bet on the Over 0.5 in the first half.
The most recent direct clash between Burkina Faso and Senegal occurred in 2017: a 2-2 draw in World Cup qualifying. Burkina Faso has had less than 50% possession in each of their five games thus far, but Senegal has too much possession.
Senegal has the upper hand in terms of team quality and should be able to defeat its eastern rivals. Burkina Faso is moving forward with small but decisive steps; on the other hand, there is Senegal, which has clearly superior technical means compared to even good rivals. This is why we are aiming for a success within 90 ‘of the Teranga Lions.
Argentina is the second South American team in order of time to have taken off the pass for the 2022 World Cup, and in the next match, scheduled at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Ciudad de Cordoba, they face Colombia, who, instead, at 270 minutes from the end of the tournament, is eliminated from the final phase. Cuadrado and his teammates, in fact, are the first to be excluded in sixth place.
The Albiceleste, hit by COVID, won 2-1 against Chile in the last match, and now it is up to Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala to play for a place in the attack. Speaking of COVID-19, coach Scaloni will also be out and Walter Samuel will sit on the bench. The Cafeteros, on the other hand, are coming off a 1-0 loss to Peru and will be missing Atalantines Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel; the first one is recovering and the latter is out due to COVID. Attack is a bit “blunt” for a team that is still called to score points without too many calculations.
Form Guide
Argentina DWWWDW
Argentina, who won their previous match, will be hoping for a repeat performance after a 1-2 WC Qualifiers-South America win against Chile.
Argentina’s defense hasn’t been able to accomplish much more recently, as evidenced by their recent results. Argentina has surrendered little to the opposition, with a total of one goal scored at their end in their last six games.
Colombia DDLDWL
Colombia and their travelling supporters will be aiming for a better result in this game after being defeated by Peru in the WC Qualifiers – South America competition in their previous match.
In five of Colombia’s last six games, the amount of goals scored between them and rival teams has been rather modest. The overall average amount of goals scored per game throughout that period is 0.83, with Los Cafeteros averaging 0.33.
Injured and suspended
Argentina (Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo de Paul, and Leandro Paredes)
Colombia (Yerry Mina,)
Argentina vs Colombia Predicted XI
Argentina Predicted XI: E. Martinez; Molina, Martinez Quarta, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Di Maria, Lo Celso, Rodriguez, Ocampos; La. Martinez, A. Correa
Colombia Predicted XI: Ospina; Cuadrado, Tesillo, Sanchez, Mojica; Rodriguez, Barrios, Uribe, Diaz; Falcao, Borja
At home, Argentina have not conceded a goal in qualifying for 4 games, and even if they are already qualified, we do not believe that it will do a favor to a Colombia that has not been able to score for 6 games in a row.
Albiceleste is without a doubt the favorite for the game in Cordoba.
After sharing the stakes with Ecuador in the last qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup, Brazil, already qualified, will face Paraguay at the Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto in Belo Horizonte, simply known to all as the “Mineirao”. Seleçao, who have never lost in this tournament with 8 wins and 3 draws, will have to do without the suspended defender Emerson Royal, while both Fabinho and Paqueta are back. Neymar is out and Ajax ace Antony could have a chance.
Paraguay, on the other hand, suffered yet another defeat in these qualifiers by losing in front of the home crowd 1-0 against Uruguay. Paraguay is not considered a good away team, and it is difficult for Brazil not to honor the commitment in front of their audience. Paraguay does not have Andres Cubas, Celso Ortiz, Roberto Fernandez, and Omar Alderete, and we recall that in the first leg they were defeated at home by Brazil 2-0.
Form Guide
Brazil WDWWDD
Brazil comes into this match on the back of a 1-1 WC Qualifiers-South America draw against Ecuador.
As evidenced by their recent scores, the Brazilian backline has put in significant effort in recent games. Brazil has been frugal, scoring only three goals in their last six games. However, it remains to be seen whether or not this pattern will continue in the upcoming encounter.
Paraguay DLLLDL
Paraguay will be looking to make amends after losing to Uruguay in the WC Qualifiers-South America game last time around.
In five of the previous six meetings between Paraguay and its opponents, the number of goals scored was rather modest. During that time, the total average goals scored per game was a pitiful 1.33, with Los Guaranes scoring an average of 0.
Injured and suspended
Brazil (Emerson Royal, Eder Militao)
Paraguay (Omar Alderete, Matias Rojas, Gustavo Gomez)
Brazil vs Paraguay Predicted XI
Brazil Predicted XI: Ederson; Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro; Fred, Casemiro; Antony, Philippe Coutinho, Vinicius Junior; Gabriel Jesus
Paraguay Predicted XI: Antony Silva; Juan Escobar, David Martinez, Junior Alonso, Santiago Arzamendia; Braian Ojeda, Mathias Villasanti, Richard Sanchez, Miguel Almiron; Carlos Gonzalez, Antonio Sanabria
Brazil is currently on an eight-game unbeaten streak, with only three goals conceded. They are undefeated in World Cup qualifications so far, with only one loss since 2019.
Paraguay, on the other hand, is on a six-game losing streak, having lost four of those games. They have failed to score in that time and are expected to lose on Wednesday.
We are focusing on Brazil in a challenge that has very little to say. The “verdeoro” are qualified, but we believe they will want to honor their commitment in front of the home crowd by looking for the seventh positive score in a row, while Paraguay is next to last and sees a possible qualification impossible.
The most anticipated match of the 2022 Africa Cup so far will be played on Thursday, February 3 at the Stade d’Olembé in Yaoundé; it is the semi-final between two giants of African football, such as Cameroon and Egypt. The two great rivals have had quite different paths so far: The Indomitable Lions, hosts and big favorites on the eve of the event, won against Burkina Faso (2-1), Ethiopia (4-1), Comoros (2-1) and Gambia (2-0), drawing only in the last match of the groups against Cape Verde (1-1).
The path of an Egypt that struggled a lot to get to this point of the event was quite different: the defeat of the debut against Nigeria (1-0) did not bode well. Then came the successes with Sudan and Guinea-Bissau, the victory on penalties against Ivory Coast in the round of 16 and the success gained in extra time, a comeback (2-1) with the strong Morocco.
For Salah and his companions, the biggest obstacle has arrived: that of a Cameroon that seems to be very much on track towards the goal desired by an entire nation. The “Pharaohs” struggled in this tournament, scoring just 3 goals in 5 games in the 90 minutes and also in the quarterfinals.
Form Guide
Cameroon WWWDWW
Cameroon will be hoping for a repeat of their last outcome, which was a 0-2 triumph over Gambia.
Cameroon controlled the game with 61 percent possession and 18 shots on goal, seven of which were on target. Cameroon’s only player on the scoresheet was Karl Toko Ekambi (50′, 57′). Gambia had two shots on goal, one of which was on target, against their opponents.
Their most recent results demonstrate that everything in the Cameroon backline is progressing according to plan. Cameroon has been stingy with their goalkeepers, conceding only four goals in their last six matches.
Egypt WLWWDW
Egypt will enter this match fresh off a 2-1 Africa Cup of Nations victory over Morocco in their most recent match.
Egypt had 54 percent possession and 14 shots on goal, five of which were on target, in the encounter. Mohamed Salah (53′) and Trézéguet (100′) scored goals for Egypt. Morocco attempted 16 shots on goal, four of which were on target. Morocco’s Sofiane Boufal (7′) scored the goal.
The number of goals conceded by Egypt’s defensive players has risen to three in their last six matches, thanks to a string of strong performances. During the same time frame, they have scored six goals on their own.
Injured and suspended
Cameroon: (Mohamed El Shenawy, Akram Tawfik,)
Egypt: clean bill of health and no suspension concerns
Cameroon vs Egypt Predicted XI
Cameroon Predicted XI: Onana – Fai, Moukoudi, Ngadeu, Tolo – Hongla, Anguissa, Ngamaleu, Ekambi – Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting
Egypt Predicted XI: Abou Gabal – Kamal, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Fattoh – Elneny, Fahti, Al-Sulaya – Salah, Marmoush, Mohamed
Cameroon is at home and therefore a favorite. Egypt’s forwards rely on one of the strongest strikers in the world. In the last 3 precedents, the ”Goal” has always occurred, and it is a great temptation even in this case.
We expect an open and hard-fought challenge, played at a more “European” pace than we have seen so far; both teams will have more chances to overcome the opposing defenses. That of a Cameroon that seems to be very much on the way to the goal desired by an entire nation. We expect an open and hard-fought challenge, played at a more “European” pace than we have seen so far. So let’s focus on the “Goal”.