Senegal meet Malawi on Tuesday evening with both teams determined to sneak through to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) knockout stage in Cameroon.
Senegal share Group B top spot with Guinea on four points from two games each and a win for the Teranga Lions would see them through to the next stage.
The Teranga Lions started the group’s campaign with a slender 1-0 win over bottom-placed Zimbabwe, thanks to Sadio Mane’s injury time penalty earned after the Warriors defender’s handball.
Against, Malawi, Senegal need to up their game especially upfront where they have not been at their fluent best despite possessing an array of stars, including the Liverpool forward.
Chelsea goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy, fresh from winning Fifa best keeper award, might be back in goals for Senegal to replace Dieng alongside captain Kalidou Koulibaly in defence.
Both players missed the two games for Senegal after testing positive for Covid-19.
Malawi have plenty at stake going into the game as the players have been promised free trays of eggs for a year and pieces of land at a discount plus $1,200 each if they beat Senegal.
Two firms have made the pledges for the eggs and land whereas Malawi president Lazarus Chakwera has made the cash pledge.
The Flames lost 1-0 to Guinea in the opening match before bouncing back to beat Zimbabwe 2-1 on Friday, thanks to Gabadinho Mhango’s brace.
Coach Mario Marinica, who missed the two games due to Covid, will return to the bench to join stand-in mentor Meck Mwase who held fort.
Marinica has since named uncapped goalkeeper Charles Thom in the starting XI in the absence of Ernest Kakhobwe who is unavailable.
The coach has also restored midfielder Micium Mhone to the starting squad and dropped striker Richard Mbulu.
Malawi can only be certain of qualification if they will while a draw might not offer a straight forward option.
In another game for the group, Guinea take on eliminated Zimbabwe in another match for the group.
Head -to-Head
Malawi and Senegal have meet thrice in all competitions with the Flames winning once and twice for the Teranga Lions.
The two teams last met on July 14 the Cosafa Cup held in South Africa where the Flames lost 2-1.
Current Form
Senegal have won twice and drawn once in the last three games across all competitions whereas Malawi have won twice and lost twice in the last four games including friendlies.
Rankings
Malawi are ranked on a distant 129th place on Fifa rankings compared to 20th position for Senegal who are also Africa’s top rated side.
Line-Ups:
Senegal: Eduardo Mendy, Cisse, Mbaye, Mendy, Sarr, Dia, Kalidou Koulibaly, Balde, Cheikh Kouyate, Idrissa Gaye, Sadio Mane
Malawi (confirmed): Charles Thom, Stanley Sanudi, Chembezi Dennis, Lawrence Chaziya, Gomezgani Chirwa, John Banda, Fransisco Madinga, Chimwemwe Idana, Micium Mhone, Gabadinho Mhango, Khuda Muyaba
