Senegal Prepares for Final AFCON Qualifier Against Burundi

Senegal is set to conclude its successful 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification campaign with a match against Burundi. The fixture is scheduled to take place at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in Dakar on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with a kick-off time of 9 PM Central Africa Time (CAT).

Senegal, under interim coach Pape Thiaw, has already secured its spot in the upcoming AFCON after securing a narrow 1-0 victory against Burkina Faso last Thursday. This match marked Thiaw’s third consecutive win since stepping into the role in October, following the departure of long-serving coach Aliou Cisse.

Speaking on Thiaw’s leadership, former Senegal player Mamadou Niang expressed his support, stating, «He was able to obtain a positive result against tough opponents such as Malawi and Burkina Faso. These victories under pressure indicate that he possesses the qualities necessary to lead the national team.»

Senegal currently leads Group L of the AFCON qualifiers with a clear aim to maintain its position by at least securing a draw against Burundi. Despite this, it is expected that Thiaw may use this match to give fringe players an opportunity, while still ensuring the team is strong enough to maintain their unbeaten record against Burundi.

Burundi, on the other hand, is out of the running for a place in next year’s AFCON, trailing behind Senegal and Burkina Faso in the standings. The team began its campaign with a win over Malawi but has struggled since, failing to secure a victory in their last four matches. Their most recent result was a goalless draw against Malawi.

Even with the odds stacked against them, Burundi is motivated to end their AFCON journey on a positive note and possibly gain some redemption after their 1-0 defeat to Senegal in September.

The expected lineup for Senegal includes players such as Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Sadio Mane. On the opposite side, Burundi is poised to rely on players including goalkeeper Jonathan Nahimana and middle-fielder Gael Bigirimana to field a competitive lineup against the formidable Senegal team.