2012 Africa Cup of Nations Preview: Libya - Senegal

LIBYA Aboud Berrish, Salama, Shibani, Aboubaker Mohamed Esnani, Saad, Belreesh Boussifi, Zuway

SENEGAL Coundoul Mbengue, Diawara, Mangane, Sane Diame, Ndaw, Ndoye, Dia Ba, Cisse

After collecting their first points of the competition against Zambia in horrid conditions on Wednesday, Libya can only advance to the second round of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) by winning their final match and hoping that Equatorial Guinea do the same.

Standing in the Mediterranean Knights’ way will be a Senegalese side that has already been eliminated due to successive shock losses to the Chipolopolo and the Nzalang Nacional.

Marcos Paqueta’s team did well to twice take the lead against Zambia through Ahmed Osman Saad's brace but this time they will need to do a better job conserving any advantage if they are to have any chance of advancing to the knockout stages. Midfielder Walid Al Khatroushi left that encounter with an injury and may have to miss out on this one.

For the west Africans, this match will be about trying to save face after a heartbreaking last-second loss to the co-hosts in Bata and an early elimination that hardly anyone predicted.

With the team already out, the question is whether the lack of pressure will have a negative or positive effect on their play. Senegal were much better in their second game but an inability to translate chances into goals despite an enviable strike force was ultimately their undoing.

• Senegal have not won a game at the Afcon since 2006 when they defeated Zimbabwe 2-0.

• Teranga Lions coach Amara Traore had “no explanation” for Senegal’s shock exit and, according to some sources, added that his team needed to shoo away "the black cat" which seems to be following them.

• Libya historically have the upper hand on the Teranga Lions, having beaten them twice in their history. They have also drawn once and lost once against Sunday's opponents.

• Former Senegal international El Hadji Diouf did not mince his words regarding the Lions’ exit, putting the blame squarely on Traore’s shoulders.

• The only time when Libya have previously it to the second round of the Afcon was in 1982 when they hosted the competition and made it all the way to the final.