Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
David Prentice

Senegal vs Algeria AFCON final preview, tips and odds

Senegal are favourites - fractionally - to win Friday's African Nations Cup final against Algeria (kick-off 8pm).

But the Desert Foxes (Algeria) have already beaten the Lions of Teranga 1-0 in the group stages and another close, tight encounter looks likely.

Two of the last four finals have gone to penalties - and either side to triumph in that fashion is a very attractive 11/1 with The Pools .

For penalties to be necessary the match will have to finish all-square and the draw half-time and full-time is 11/4.

Algeria were big-priced outsiders when the tournament started but as well as edging Senegal they beat Kenya 2-0 and Tanzania 3-0 during the pool stage.

In the knockout rounds, the Desert Foxes brushed aside Guinea 3-0, before shading Ivory Coast in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 stalemate.

Extra-time again looked on the cards in the semis, when Nigeria forward Odion Ighalo cancelled out William Troost-Ekong’s own goal from the spot.

However, Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez curled in an injury-time free-kick from just outside the area to send Algeria through.

That was Mahrez's third goal of the tournament and with Napoli midfielder Adam Ounas also on target three times in the tournament so far, it would be no surprise to see Algeria nick it.

They are unbeaten in their last five clashes with Senegal , winning four of them - in fact Senegal's last victory over their North African rivals came in the 2008 World Cup.

So back Algeria to win it ... eventually!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.