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NederlandIn a battle of two continental heavyweights, Senegal and South Africa lock horns on Sunday to determine the winner of this year's COSAFA Cup.
Senegal survived a first-half scare to see off Eswatini in the semis, in stark contrast to South Africa's emphatic victory over Mozambique.
Match preview
Senegal endured a rocky start to their COSAFA Cup campaign as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Namibia in their opening fixture.
Aliou Cisse's men responded with three straight wins over Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to finish top of Group B, setting up a semi-final meeting with Eswatini.
The Lions of Teranga were given a run for their money, having to come from two goals to force a penalty shootout which ended 3-0 in their favour.
Senegal are now aiming to become the first ever guest nation to be crowned champions of the competition, and they are only a win away from doing so.
Hosting the tournament for the fourth time in a row, South Africa had failed to reach the final on any of the three previous occasions.
Hugo Broos's men fell at the quarter-final hurdle three consecutive times but were determined to turn their fortunes around this time.
They wasted no time in declaring their intent to go all the way, sweeping aside Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho by a combined score of 6-0.
Having already secured progress heading into their final Group A fixture against Zambia, the Bafana Bafana could afford to take their foot off the gas and played out a goalless draw.
However, normal service was resumed in their last-four meeting versus Mozambique, where goals from Sepana Letsoalo, Njabulo Ngcobo and Yusuf Maart put South Africa on the brink of a fifth COSAFA Cup title.
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Team News
Both sides have the full complement of their squads to pick from for this one, with no players missing through injury or suspension.
South Africa are yet to let in a goal in any of their five games to date, so Hugo Broos is expected to stick with his tested and trusted defensive unit.
Sepana Letsoalo leads the way in terms of goals scored with four, and the Bloemfontein Celtic forward has all but secured the Golden Boot Award.
Pepe Massar Dijitte and Abu Bakry Diop are Letsoala's nearest challengers that are still active in the tournament, with the Senegalese duo having scored two goals apiece.
Senegal possible starting lineup:
N'Diaye; Gomis, Gningue, Fall, Ndiaye; Kane, Mendy, Diallo; Diene, Diop, Djitte
South Africa possible starting lineup:
Mothwa; Magqwaka, Mphahlele, De Reuck, Ngcobo; Sibanyoni, Maart, Phohlongo; Letsoalo, Malinga, Ngobeni
We say: Senegal 1-2 South Africa
This is a clash between two very capable teams, and it could go either way. However, South Africa are the more experienced side and, coupled with the fact that they are playing on home turf, we are backing them to emerge victorious come the full-time whistle.
