Senegal visits Malawi on Tuesday needing one win to secure qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal recently dominated Malawi in a 4-0 victory, showcasing their attacking strength and solid defense. Malawi, struggling for form, must win to keep their slim qualification hopes alive after recent poor performances, including a continuous winless streak. The absence of goalkeeper Brighton Munthali due to a red card adds to Malawi’s challenges as they strive for their first points in the AFCON qualifiers.
On Tuesday, Senegal is poised to face Malawi at the Bingu National Stadium, with the former needing just one more win to secure their place in the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In contrast, Malawi must secure a victory to maintain their slim hopes of qualification for Africa’s prestigious football tournament. Senegal recently returned to form with a commanding 4-0 victory over Malawi at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade, marking a rejuvenation in their attacking prowess. This victory, achieved under the guidance of caretaker manager Pape Thiaw, who replaced the controversially dismissed Aliou Cisse, featured goals from Pape Gueye, Sadio Mane, Boulaye Dia, and Nicolas Jackson. The Lions of Teranga have kept an impressive unbeaten streak, now standing at seven matches, comprising five victories and two draws, while demonstrating solid defensive play by conceding only two goals and maintaining five clean sheets. With Burkina Faso securing their AFCON qualification earlier in the day, Senegal is now aiming to join them through their match against Malawi. Conversely, Malawi has experienced a tumultuous decline, suffering a crushing defeat to Senegal, further deepening their woes following an earlier exit from the COSAFA Cup. Patrick Mabedi’s squad has secured only two wins in their last 11 matches across all competitions and currently remains winless in their three AFCON qualifying attempts, placing them at the bottom of Group L with a substantial seven-point deficit against their upcoming rivals. Given their history of three AFCON appearances, failure to triumph over Senegal would likely extinguish Malawi’s chances of advancing to the tournament. The absence of Bright Munthali, Malawi’s goalkeeper who was sent off in the previous match, may further complicate their efforts, granting George Chikooka an opportunity to return between the posts for only his sixth international appearance. Predictions favor Senegal for this match, as their pronounced array of talent positions them strongly to emerge victorious. Previews suggest a likely scoreline of 2-0 in favor of Senegal.
This match between Malawi and Senegal is critical for both teams in their quest for qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Senegal stands on the brink of confirming their spot in the tournament following a recent resurgence in performance, particularly with a strong showing against Malawi. In contrast, Malawi faces an uphill battle, needing a victory to remain in contention for AFCON qualification, especially after a series of disappointing results in recent competitions. The dynamics of their previous encounter and current standings in their respective groups add weight to the significance of this matchup.
In conclusion, the upcoming clash between Malawi and Senegal is vital for both teams with contrasting motivations—the former aiming to revive their qualification hopes while the latter seeks to solidify their entry into the AFCON tournament. Given Senegal’s recent form and breadth of talent, they are positioned as strong favorites for this encounter, while Malawi must demonstrate significant improvement, particularly defensively, to have any hope of achieving a positive result.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk