Despite the controversy surrounding the decision to keep Sadio Mane on the field after suffering a head injury in the win over Cape Verde, the Liverpool striker plays for Senegal in their quarter-final against Equatorial Guinea.
Frankly, with Aliou Cisse’s side struggling for goals, they really need him to.
While Ismaila Sarr has joined up with the squad after his injury absence, the Watford forward is fit enough only for a place on the bench as he continues his recovery.
With a place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on the line, Senegal need to avoid the kind of upset we’ve seen so often in the AFCON so far.
If they can grind their way into the final four, anything can happen.
Senegal XI: Mendy, Sarr, Koulibaly, Diallo, Ciss, Gueye, Mendy, Gueye, Dia, Diedhiou, Mane
Date: Sunday January 30, 2022
Venue: Japoma Stadium
TV channel: BBC Two, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Premier League