Senegal will lock horns with Algeria in their second 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group C match at the 30 June Stadium in Egypt on Thursday.

Kick-off is at 7pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

The Lions of Teranga got off to a winning start in the continental tournament as they secured a 2-0 victory over Tanzania in Cairo on Sunday.

Two goals from Keita Balde Diao and Krepin Diatta helped Senegal secure the victory and they are placed second on the group standings.

Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse says the victory against the Taifa Stars has given them hope as they look to go all the way and clinch their maiden Afcon title.

“We came into this tournament environment and kicked off well. It gives us hope and the ability to keep improving,” Cisse said.

“Four or five years, I have been trying to come up with a capable team. I am sure of their quality.”

The Lions of Teranga will look to Liverpool FC forward Sadio Mane, who will make his first appearance in the tournament after missing the clash against Tanzania due to suspension.

Meanwhile, Algeria also began their Group C campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Kenya in another match which was played in Cairo on Sunday.

Goals from Baghdad Bounedjah and Riyad Mahrez inspired the Desert Lions to victory which took them to the top of the group standings.

Algeria head coach Djamel Belmadi is wary of Senegal’s dangerman Mane, but he has made it known that the 1990 Afcon champions will be ready for the encounter.

“Against Senegal we will be facing the tournament favourite with the addition of Sadio Mané,” Belmadi said.

“It’s a very competitive team but we will be ready for this match.”

The Desert Foxes’ key player is Manchester City winger Mahrez, who will be looking to score again and help his side overcome Senegal.

In head-to-head stats, Senegal and Algeria have met on 19 occasions.

The Desert Foxes have recorded 10 victories compared to the Lions of Teranga’s four wins, while five matches ended in a draw.

Nigeria will take on a wounded Guinea side in what is shaping up to be an important 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash at Alexandria Stadium in Alexandria on Wednesday afternoon.

Kick-off is at 4:30pm CAT (SA, GMT+2).

The Super Eagles got their campaign up and running with a hard fought 1-0 win over tournament newbies Burundi this past weekend.

Victory moved Nigeria top of the group and in pole position in build-up to their clash against their fellow West Africans on the Mediterranean coastline.

Odion Ighalo, who was the top goalscorer in qualifying, continued where he left off with a crisp finish following an outrageous back-heel assist by Ola Aina that superbly dissected a stubborn Swallows defence.

Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr wasn’t too fazed by his team’s struggles against a well drilled Burundi side, with the result the most important as they now aim to take a huge step towards qualifying for the knockout stages in their pursuit of a fourth Afcon crown.

“The Nigerian supporters are happy that we won the match, and it’s good to win the first match, it’s never easy,” said Rohr.

“The second match will also be difficult against a wonderful team of Guinea, and the third one, Madagascar, will be challenging too. We will try to give our best.”

The Syli Nationale started Uefa Champions League winner Naby Keita on the bench for their 2-2 draw against Madagascar. The Liverpool forward, though, is expected to start in midweek having fully recovered from a hamstring injury picked up at Camp Nou last month.

Guinea, who went unbeaten through qualifying on their way to topping a group that included Ivory Coast, opened the scoring against the island nation.

Madagascar, though, hit back with two goals in six minutes before Francois Kamano steered home a penalty to conjure a point for the Syli Nationale.

Nigeria are the third highest ranked team on the continent – 45th in the world – and sit 26 places above their opponents.

Ghana opened their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Benin at the Ismailia Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Black Stars – who played more than a third of the game with just 10 men – already find themselves two points off the pace of Group F leaders Cameroon, who beat Guinea-Bissau earlier in the evening.

As for the Squirrels, their performance merited a share of the spoils and featured two well-taken goals from Mickael Pote, the first player to score more than once in the tournament.

Benin got off to a flying start and scored the earliest goal in the Afcon to date, taking the lead in just the second minute.

Steve Mounie played a perfectly-weighted pass in behind the square defence of Ghana and Mickael Pote sprinted onto it, before neatly stepping inside a challenge from Lumor Agbeyenu and stabbing a shot past goalkeeper Richard Ofori.

Yet Ghana were not behind for long: in the ninth minute they levelled the game at 1-1 through a fine strike from Andre Ayew, who picked up a pass in the box from his brother Jordan, held off a defender and sent a low shot just inside the left-hand post of goalkeeper Fabien Farnolle.

After such an explosive start, the teams went into their shells somewhat and chances were hard to come by for almost all of the remainder of the first half. However, Ghana created one more opportunity and capitalised on it to ensure a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Defender Kasim Adams Nuhu played a fine pass from inside his half which allowed Jordan Ayew to turn his marker before sending an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net in the 42nd minute of the match.

Ghana appeared to be in control of the game in the second half, but just nine minutes after the restart they were reduced to 10 men. Defender John Boye, already on a yellow card, was shown a second caution for time wasting and sent for an early shower.

Benin, now with a numerical advantage, restored parity at 2-2 in the 63rd minute. The Squirrels worked a corner kick short before opening up an angle to drive a dangerous low ball into the danger area, and Pote was on hand to score with a back-heel and rack up his second goal of the night.

The Black Stars nearly reclaimed the lead on 70 minutes through a thunderbolt shot direct from a free kick by Thomas Partey, but Farnolle did exceptionally well to palm the ball away for a corner kick.

That proved to be the last notable attacking highlight of the match, as the opponents settled for a point apiece.

The teams will be back in action on Saturday 29 June, with Ghana taking on Cameroon and Benin facing Guinea-Bissau – both games will be held at the Ismailia Stadium.

Ghana (2) 2 (A. Ayew 9’, J. Ayew 42’)

Benin (1) 2 (Pote 2’ 63’)

Ghana: Ofori, Yiadom, Boye, Nuhu, Agbeyenu, Wakaso, Partey, Agyepong (Owusu 35’ [Mensah 59’]), Atsu, A. Ayew (Acquah 90’), J. Ayew

Benin: Farnolle, Baraze, Adilehou (Seibou 62’), Adenon, Verdon, Imorou, Pote, d’Almeida (Dossou 63’), Adeoti, Soukou (Djigla 83’), Mounie

Game figures.

FT: Ghana 2-2 Benin.

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Game Statistics

FT: Cameroon 2-0 Guinea Biassau.

The next match is Ghana vs Benin at 4:00 pm

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I’m watching Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau all set for Afcon ( http://www.supersport.com/football/africa-cup-of-nations/video/1081974 )

Welcome to our comprehensive coverage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Watch all the matches live on SuperSport or live stream them through DStv Now. You can also follow the matches through our live text commentary and interact with us through the live blog.

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Cameroon v Guinea-Bissau

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Ghana v Benin – 22:00

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Cameroon v Guinea-Bissau

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Ghana v Benin – 22:00