Lions of Teranga seeking first place in Burkina Faso clash

Senegal will be looking to maintain their perfect win record under interim head coach Pape Thiaw when they take on Burkina Faso at the Stade du 26 Mars on Thursday evening.

Kick-off is at 9pm CAT (SA, GMT+2)

CURRENT FORM

Aliou Cisse vacated the position as the head coach of Senegal and was replaced by interim coach Pape Thiaw back in October.

Since being appointed, Thiaw has a 100 per cent win record.

The coach’s charges have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 and are second in the Group L rankings for the AFCON Qualifiers.

Only goal difference separates them from their opponents, Burkina Faso who will be looking for their competitive fourth win on the trot for the first time since June 2008.

The Stallions stormed to a 4-1 win in their first October double fixture against Burundi.

Brama Traore’s players have won each of their last three matches in the group, scoring nine goals and conceding just twice.

WHAT WAS SAID

Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly says that the Lions of Teranaga are focused on moving forward with Pape Thiaw as the coach and they are not worried about his permanent replacement.

“It is a new era, we are going to see what happens,” Koulibaly told SuperSport.com. 

“For the moment we have a coach in Pape Thiaw, who is doing a good job as you can see from the last two games.”

 “We have all the confidence in the coach and we will see what happens (with his position in the future) but for the moment we are all focused with this coach and his staff,” he added.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dango Ouattara, Burkina Faso - The Bournemouth winger scored a brace in the Stallions’ 4-1 victory over Burundi and the 22-year-old will be looking to replicate that stellar performance against Senegal.

Nicolas Jackson, Senegal - Also a Premier League player, Jackson has turned up well this season for Chelsea. In 11 matches in the English top-flight, the 23-year-old striker has scored six goals and provided three assists.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Matches played - 12

Burkina Faso wins - 2

Senegal wins - 3 

Draws - 7