Cairo, EGYPT
Senegal will be aiming to make the perfect start to their quest of clinching 2019 Africa Cup of Nations glory when they take on Tanzania in the group C opener at 30 June Stadium in Cairo on Sunday evening.
The Teranga Lions head into this year's showpiece as the top ranked team on the African continent - 22nd in the world - and along with hosts Egypt, favourites to clinch what would be a maiden Afcon crown.
Senegal have yet to win Africa's premier tournament, most notably losing to Cameroon in the 2002 final.
The West African's, though, will fancy their chances of finally bringing African glory to the Senegalese people with Liverpool's Sadio Mane and Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly leading their charge.
Senegal, though, will be without Mane for their clash against Tanzania. The forward is serving a one-match ban after being yellow-carded twice during qualifying for this year's tournament.
Head coach Aliou Cisse, though, is confident Senegal will be able to cope without their main man.
"His absence should not in any way bother us," said Cisse, who was part of the squad that lost in the final 17 years ago. "Certainly the presence of Sadio is beneficial, but without him we remain strong,"
Tanzania return to the African showpiece for the first time in 39 years. The Taifa Stars, who are coached by former Afcon champion Emmanuel Amunike, qualified for a first Afcon competition in almost four decades after finishing behind Uganda in qualifying.
Ranked at 131st in the world, Tanzania are among the lowest ranked teams heading into the tournament but with star forward Mbwana Samatta in their ranks, they could cause an upset or two. Samatta scored 32 goals in 51 appearances for Genk this past season. - Africa
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