2017 African cup of Nations
Group B
Senegal vs Tunisia 7pm
Algeria vs Zimbabwe 10pm
Stade de Franceville
Action at the 2017 African cup of Nations enters day 2 on Sunday with two thrilling games in group B after stalemates in the opening games between Gabon and Guinea Bissau plus Burkina Faso and Cameroon.
Pre-tournament favorites Algeria begin their campaign with a tricky tie against unpredictable Zimbabwe who return to the tournament for the first time since 2006 while Senegal take on Tunisia.
SENEGAL vs TUNISIA 10PM
Just like Algeria, Senegal come into the tournament as favorites with virtually one of the best and star studded squads. Sadio Mane, BaldeKeita, Mame Biram Diouf and Cheick Kouyate among others will headline Aliou Cisse’s squad in Gabon.
Senegal despite being a great football nation, the lions of Teranga have failed to clinch the coveted prize only coming close in 2002 when they lost to Cameroon in the finals.
Head coach Aliou Cisse now carries the lofty ambitions of winning the nations cup and the daunting task stars on Sunday against Tunisia.
Senegal were the only side that finished the qualification campaign with maximum points (18) scoring and as many as 13 goals.
Tunisia under Polish tactician Henryk Kasperczak do not seem to have the supposedly big names as Senegal besides defender Aymen Abdunnour but have always thrived on team work.
The Carthage eagles have over the years failed to replicate the performance they put up in 2004 en route to winning their first and only title.
Head to Head at Afcon
The two sides have met on four occasions at the final tournament with Tunisia winning once whilst the other three engagements have ended in stalemates.
Tunisia 0-0 Senegal (1965)
Senegal 0-0 Tunisia (2002)
Tunisia 1-0 Senegal(2004)
Senegal 2-2 Tunisia (2008)
ALGRERIA vs ZIMBABWE 7PM
Zimbabwe’s Warriors take on tournament favorites Algeria in yet another thrilling fixture in group B.
Algeria who shocked the world at the 2014 World cup in Brazil reaching the round of 16 including holding eventual winners Germany until extra time take on Zimbabwe who have also assembled a great side over the years.
George Leekens, the head coach of Algeria comes with a star studded side that includes the likes of Leicester City’s duo of Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, Yacine Brahimi and Fauzi Ghoulam among others
However, Zimbabwe under coach Callisto Pasuwa have been widely regarded as the dark horses at the tournament.
Like Algeria look at their current squad as the golden generation, equally Zimbabwe regard the current crop of players as a side than can deliver success to the nation.
Williard Kasande, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Cuthbert Malgia and Evans Rusike formthe core of the Warriors squad.
The only meeting between the two sides at African cup of Nations came in 2004 and Zimbabwe won the game 2-1.