Senegal-Mozambique statistics: The Lions face an opponent they have a particularly good record against.

Senegal kicks off its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign this Friday against Mozambique. For this opening match, the Lions, the reigning African champions, approach the game with a clear psychological advantage: their head-to-head record is heavily in their favor.

Since their first encounter on March 10, 1986, during the Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt, the two teams have regularly met in African qualifying campaigns. And on several occasions, Senegal has prevailed over the Mambas.

The first official encounter had already set the tone. The Lions had won 2-0, thanks in particular to a Senegalese team led by Amadou Diop and the golden generation of 1986.

Six years later, the two teams met again in the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup. Senegal had won the first leg in Maputo (1-0) on October 24, 1992, before confirming their dominance in the return leg on January 29, 1993, with a spectacular 6-1 victory in Dakar.

A domination that continues

The next encounter also went in Senegal's favor. During the 2008 AFCON qualifiers, the Lions beat Mozambique 2-0 in Dakar on September 2, 2006. In the return match, played on June 17, 2007 in Maputo, the two teams drew 0-0.

More recently, during the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Aliou Cissé's men once again prevailed. On March 24, 2023, Senegal inflicted a heavy defeat on the Mambas at home (5-1), before securing another victory in Maputo four days later (1-0).

Even outside of major official competitions, Senegal has regularly come out on top. Invited to the COSAFA Cup, the Lions notably beat Mozambique 1-0 in June 2021. In 2022, the two teams met again and Senegal once more had the last word in a penalty shootout (1-1, 4-2 on penalties).

A statistical advantage that needs to be confirmed on the field

This history gives Senegal a clear advantage heading into this new encounter. The Lions know this opponent well and have often been able to impose their rhythm, both in Dakar and Maputo.

But statistics don't guarantee the outcome of a match. Mozambique has improved in recent years and now intends to rely on its own strengths to challenge the African champions.

For Patrick Vieira's men, this match represents a first opportunity to confirm their status in these 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Facing an opponent they have historically fared well against, the Lions must above all avoid being held back by past mistakes. On paper, history is in Senegal's favor. On the pitch, however, everything remains to be written.