Zambia will have to call on all of their determination and concentration to keep out a Senegal side that, on paper at least, has the most potent attack at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The teams meet at the Estadio de Bata in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday night for their Group A fixture, kick-off at 23h00 SA time.
The Lions of Teranga have such riches up front that coach Amara Traore has a genuinely difficult decision as to who of Demba Ba, Moussa Sow, Papiss Demba Cisse, Souleymane Camara and Dame N’Doye will play alongside captain Mamadou Niang in attack.
Whoever the West Africans pick, they will certainly pose a massive goal threat that Zambia’s defence – set to feature PSL stalwarts such as Free State Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and the versatile Joseph Musonda of Golden Arrows – will he hard pressed to neutralise.
Chipolopolo may take the approach that the best form of defence is attack, and look to press Senegal on the back foot. However, in the absence of their best striker (Jacob Mulenga was ruled out of the tournament due to injury), Zambia’s attack has been misfiring of late and coach Herve Renard will be hoping that Christopher Katongo and Collins Mbesuma can rediscover their scoring touch at international level.
Senegal have not been particularly impressive in their warm-up matches, claiming unconvincing 1-0 wins over both Sudan and Kenya, but the feeling is that once the tournament starts in earnest they will pick up their game and justify their status as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
With the other two Group A teams being co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Libya (who meet in the opening game at 20h00), most pundits predict that the outcome of this match between Senegal and Zambia will determine who wins the group.
SOURCE:SUPER SPORTS
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