Qatar vs Senegal – World Cup Group A: How they’re progressing, injuries and predictions ahead of the all-important second game

QATAR will be looking to recover from their opening day loss to Ecuador when they face Senegal.

Many well-known pundits, including Samuel Eto’o and Tim Cahill, tipped the hosts off to make it to the knockout rounds.

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The World Cup icons even believed Qatar would beat England in the round of 16.

However, if they want to make it out of Group A, they need to get an all-important, morale-boosting win in their second game.

They face off against a Senegal who is also pushing for a place in the knockout stages.

SunSport previews the game with a comprehensive preview… including prediction of the score.

How are you?

Qatar: Lost the first set as the stadium emptied just after half-time, such was the dismal first-half performance.

Ecuador scored two goals – another was disallowed – before the hosts turned it into a game in the second half.

Read full match report Qatar vs Ecuador…

Senegal: Qatar meet the giants of African football on Friday after they too lost their opener in Group A.

Holland snatched all three points with two very late goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen.

Read full match report between Senegal and Holland…

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Any injuries to worry about?

Qatar: No fitness worries for the hosts ahead of their second game. And that’s the good news from their opener.

After failing to score against Ecuador, coach Felix Sanchez might consider some changes.

Senegal: Cheikhou Kouyate was taken off on a stretcher after being slapped in the privates in the Holland loss and could miss the Qatar game.

Elsewhere, Abdou Diallo is also questionable for the game after being substituted off with a punch of his own.

Who will the star men be?

Qatar: Akram Afif will be the man the hosts turn to for goals.

The 2019 Asian Footballer of the Year was quiet in the opening game but it’s far too early to count him out.

Senegal: They may be missing Sadio Mane, but the Lions of Teranga still have plenty of talent.

Players like Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye will all be in the starting XI but Ismaila Sarr could be the man to break through Qatar’s defence.

What is the head to head?

These two nations have never played against each other.

SunSport Prediction

Qatar 0 Senegal 1