Senegal vs Niger Prediction: An easy one for the Lions of Teranga

The defending champions of the Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal, are set to take on Niger at Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade on Monday. Aliou Cisse's team is gearing up to commence their Cup of Nations campaign against Gambia on January 15, and they are eager to enter the tournament in excellent form.

Senegal enters Monday's game as the favorites to defend the continental crown they secured two years ago, aiming to demonstrate their readiness in the final tune-up before the upcoming competition. The Lions of Teranga have an opportunity to extend their undefeated streak to three matches, which includes victories over Cameroon (1-0) and South Sudan (4-0). Despite being held to a goalless draw by Togo in World Cup qualifying, the African champions remain in control of their progress and are determined to maintain a fourth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions on Monday.

Senegal's first game at AFCON 2023 is scheduled a week after facing Niger, providing ample time for rest and recovery before their opening fixture against Gambia. While a victory in Monday's match would be advantageous for their title defense, there is no cause for alarm if Senegal fails to secure the win. 

While Niger may not be participating in the continental showpiece, Menas aim to disrupt the party, hoping to instill a sense of uncertainty in Cisse's Lions. Zaki Badou's side must maintain the belief that they can compete against a nation ranked 109 places above them in the FIFA men's ranking, building on their World Cup qualifying victory against Zambia in November.

Despite a 1-0 loss to Tanzania in the initial fixtures, the West African nation responded impressively with a 2-1 triumph over Zambia, reigniting their hopes for a debut appearance, even if they might settle for a second-place finish. Menas have demonstrated a recent tendency to find the back of the net, scoring in three of their latest four games in all competitions. Whether they can showcase this offensive prowess against the Lions of Teranga remains to be seen, but Badou's men are confident in their ability to score a goal nonetheless.

It's evident that Senegal is operating at a high level, and it's challenging to envision a struggling Niger putting on a top performance in this matchup. With the Lions of Teranga heavily favored, your confidence in them performing well and securing a victory by a three-goal margin seems justified. The apparent difference in quality between the two teams supports the expectation of a dominant performance by Senegal in this encounter.