Given the fact that only leaders of the eleven groups, the second in Group K and the two best runners-up will join the host nations; Equatorial Guinea and Gabon in the final round of the 2012 African Cup of Nations, the bone of contention in the encounter between Senegal and Cameroon will be to decide the group leaders in Group E, synonymous to a good option towards qualification. Senegal currently tops the group with six points, followed by Cameroon on four points, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the third position with one point and Mauritius Island last with zero point. A victory for Senegal will therefore enable the Teranga Lions to widen the leadership gap to five points making it practically impossible for Cameroon to topple them from the helm of the group. Whereas victory for the Indomitable Lions will enable Cameroon to topple Senegal from the top seat and place them in confidence before the crucial return leg encounter in Yaounde. On the other hand, a defeat for Cameroon and victory for the Democratic Republic of Congo will enable the Simbas to catch-up with the Indomitable Lions and even jeopardise their chances of ever emerging best second.

Cameroon will therefore be gunning for nothing short of victory when they take on Senegal at the Leopold Sedar Senghor stadium in Dakar next Saturday March 26. On paper, the Teranga Lions are favourites given their present form; six on six points, 11 goals scored and only two conceded. Cameroon has four points from six put to play with four goals scored and two conceded. However, Cameroon is noted for the fighting spirit, able to turn the tables with their backs on the wall. In addition, Cameroon is a hub of talented world class players, capable of overcoming the Senegal hurdle. More so, previous encounters between Cameroon and Senegal have mostly ended in favour of Cameroon. In four encounters, Cameroon has won three times whereas Senegal has won only once. Cameroon has also participated regularly in the final round of the African Cup of Nations. The only blot of escutcheon on the Cameroon side, is that they will not be going to Senegal with their first eleven owing to the dissension of some players.

Senegal on the other hand after restructuring their football, has metamorphosed from the underdogs of African football to become a force to reckon with. The squad is made up of a blend of experienced players and young talents with a nose for the goal such as Moussa Sow and team captain Mamadou Niang. Team coach Amara Traoré, has succeeded to put in place a collective play style characterised by constant movement and positioning which deprives the opponent of space to elaborate their game plan. The fruit of their labour is evident, 7-0 against the Mauritius Island and thirty minutes into the encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Lubumbashi, they were three goals up before winning the match 4-2. They have the added advantage that they will be playing in front of their home crowd in a stadium that has a capacity of 60.000 people. However, the Achilles’ heel of the Senegalese squad remains too much passing of the ball right to the goal mouth of the opponent. More so, Amara Traoré may face an embarrassment of choice from the plethora of 13 world class attackers who were called to camp.