Senegal vs Tunisia Predictions

Tunisia are the surprise side among the four semi-finalists at the Africa Cup of Nations. They were expected to drop out early in the knockout round, but they have managed to hang on through to this huge game, leaving them just 90 minutes shy of the final. However, they are taking on tournament favourites Senegal in the first semi-final clash on Sunday, can the outsiders manage to keep their impressive run at this competition going? Senegal are out to keep their trophy hopes alive, but they are in for a test here.

The tournament favourites know that they don’t have to worry about hosts Egypt in the next round, but they should be worried about getting there. They’ve never won this competition, with a runners-up place in 2002 the closest they’ve come. They were in the semis on three other occasions, losing all three. It’s 13 years since they made it this far, having gone out in the group stage or failed to qualify in all but one of the tournaments between 2008 and 2017. They don’t have the greatest record, but can their great squad overcome that?

Tunisia weren’t able to pull up any trees at the World Cup last summer. They were alongside England in their group in Russia, but Tunisia failed to test either of the top two adequately. They’ve been a solid side in this tournament so far, while they recorded a heavy 3-0 win against Madagascar in the previous round. While they were fortunate to have such a straightforward quarter-final clash, they are a side to worry about, especially with another clean sheet under their belt.

Tunisia aren’t the most mobile attacking side, but they’re incredibly solid. They’ve gone unbeaten throughout this tournament, drawing four of their five matches. They were able to hold sides like Mali and Ghana to a draw which has helped them make this stage, while they showed what they can do when given the opportunity against Madagascar. Can they repeat that in this meeting with Senegal?

The tournament favourites have won four and lost one of their five matches here. However, they’re on a three-game winning run in the competition, something they’ve been unable to better in any AFCON in the 21st century. They’ve got a patchy record late in tournaments, while Tunisia have avoided defeat in five of their last six meetings with Senegal. The outsiders have enough about them to take this tie to extra time in a tournament which has been full of close games, so we think there’s value in backing Tunisia to avoid defeat against Senegal once again.