Senegal and Mauritania set out to book their place in the last four of the 2023 African Nations Championship in Friday's encounter at Stade 19 Mai 1956.
Awaiting the winner of this tie in the semis is one of Madagascar or Mozambique, who are also scheduled to go head-to-head in the quarter-finals.
Match preview
Senegal wrapped up their group-stage campaign on a high courtesy of a convincing 3-0 victory over the Leopards of Congo DR on Sunday evening.
Ousmane Diouf's first-half strike put Pape Thiaw's men in the driving seat before Pape Diallo's 74th-minute effort and a Baggio Siadi own goal put the game to bed.
Consequently, the Lions of Teranga have finished top of Group B with six points from three matches, two points clear of nearest challengers Ivory Coast.
Awaiting them next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have been beaten in two of the previous three meetings between the teams across all competitions.
Off the back of a group-stage exit in their last CHAN appearance, Senegal now have a golden chance to equal their best ever performance at this level.
Mauritania fended off the threat of Mali to secure their place in the knockout stages of the African Nations Championship following a 1-0 win on Tuesday.
Mamadou Sy was the match-winner for Amir Abdou's men as his 53rd-minute opener proved to be the all-important moment at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium.
With four points amassed from their two group involvements, the Lions of Chinguetti unsurprisingly finished top of Group D, two points clear of Angola.
Having avoided an early CHAN exit for the first time in their history, Mauritania will now be aiming to go one better at this year's event.
Team News
Senegal's Libasse Ngom was suspended for the victory over Congo DR, but he is now in line to make his return to action in Friday's contest.
Despite failing to score for a third straight game last time out, Cheikh Diouf is set to retain his place in attack, but Maodo Mbaye could drop to the bench for this one.
Mamadou Sy came off with an injury scare last time out, and the 31-year-old's availability for Mauritania is currently hanging in the balance.
Should Sy be deemed unfit to participate, midfielder Yacoub Sidi will expect to be handed a starting role for the first time since December.
Senegal possible starting lineup:
Sy; Mamadou, O. Diouf, Ndiaye, Sidibe; Kane, Cisse, Camara; Diallo, Mbaye, C. Diouf
Mauritania possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Nouh, Beibou, Mhemid, Amar; Denine, Mousine; Sy, Bessam, Mohamed; Tanjy
We say: Senegal 1-0 Mauritania
Only Algeria have recorded more clean sheets than Senegal and Mauritania at the 2023 CHAN, so we expect a low-scoring affair here. That said, we can also see Senegal getting the job done come the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adepoju Marvellous
