Senegal is positioned to advance in the World Cup knockout stage against a Belgium team that has shown inconsistent offensive performance. Oddsmakers favor the Lions of Teranga, who are seen as capable of overcoming Belgium's aging "Golden Generation."
Belgium entered the tournament ranked ninth by FIFA with 40/1 odds to win, but their group stage performance fell short of expectations. Despite a 5-1 victory over New Zealand, they struggled to score in their first two matches, drawing with Iran and Egypt. This left them tied with Egypt for first place in Group G.
Key contributors for Belgium include Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. Leandro Trossard scored twice against New Zealand, and Jeremy Doku is expected to return to the lineup. Belgium also holds an advantage in goalkeeping, with Thibaut Courtois starting. However, Senegal's captain, Sadio Mané, leads a determined squad.
Senegal secured their place in the Round of 32 by defeating Iraq 5-0, after losses to France and Norway where they competed well against strong opponents. Their lineup features players like Ismaïla Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Pape Gueye, and Idrissa Gueye, who form a versatile group. Senegal has reached the knockout stage in three of their four World Cup appearances.
Senegal's starting goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, is expected to miss his second consecutive match due to a knee injury sustained against Norway. Despite a 1-2 record in group play, Senegal's ability to challenge top teams like France suggests they can pose a significant threat to Belgium's defense. The team has conceded an average of two goals per game in group play.
In what is expected to be a closely contested match, Senegal is seen as a slight underdog with +260 odds to win outright, while Belgium is a -166 favorite to qualify for the next round. Based on recent form and Senegal's resilience against stronger opposition, analysts suggest Senegal to qualify for the next round at +146 odds.