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African Cup of Nations

Vital game in the group of death as Senegal clash with Tunisia

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El Hadji Diouf's Senegal play Tunisia in a crucial Group D match. Here's what you need to know about the betting...

Group D is arguably the toughest group and its curtain-raiser is a meeting between two teams who have generally been involved at the business end of recent tournaments. Tunisia, winners in 2004, lost out on penalties at the quarter-final stage last time around and trade at [27.0] to lift the trophy for a second time.

Despite being one of Africa's strongest sides, Senegal have never won the tournament but they did reach the final in 2002 when they lost to Cameroon on spot kicks and made the last four in 2006. They are available at a tasty [15.0] to go one better in Ghana, although they will first have to navigate a tricky group that also contains South Africa and Angola.

The Teranga Lions have a wealth of attacking talent in Premier League forwards El Hadji Diouf, Diomansy Kamara and Henri Camara, although their hottest property is Marseille hitman Mamadou Niang.

Niang has hit 10 League goals for the French outfit and is available at [14.0] in the developing top scorer market. Senegal, 40th in FIFA's rankings, netted 12 goals in qualifying, topping a group that featured Mozambique, Tanzania and Burkina Faso.

Their warm-up programme featured wins over Mali and Guinea and a draw with Ghana, suggesting they deserve to be favourites for top spot in this evenly balanced group, trading at [2.66]. Tunisia, ranked 46th, are on offer at [3.1] to finish top of the pile, although punters will be aware of the Carthage Eagles' problems in preparation.

They qualified in second place behind Sudan, [300.0] for the title, and are destabilised by coach Roger Lemerre's uneasy relationship with fans and press. The Frenchman's tactics and selections are under increasing scrutiny and his team's 2-1 home defeat by Zambia this month did not lift the mood.

Tunisia have a reputation for inconsistency and struggled the last time the tournament was held in West Africa, bowing out without scoring a goal at the group stage in Mali in 2002.
Francileudo dos Santos will be available at attractive odds in Betfair's Top Goalscorer betting but could give punters a run for their money.

The Brazilian-born striker, who was granted Tunisian citizenship in 2004, scored 18 goals from 28 international caps and will be a threat Senegal will need to contain.
They trade at [3.2] to claim the points in this clash, with Senegal on offer at [2.56]. The draw is available at [3.25].