The opening match of the cup is set to be one of the most enthralling, between the winners of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Dutch. The Netherlands are out for revenge after the last Euro, where they flew through the group stage but, in the end, were stopped in the first round of the knockout stages.
✔ 1X2 Prediction Senegal vs Netherlands
As winners of the AFCON last February, Senegal appears to be the most in-form team in Africa at the moment. Carried by Sadio Mané, the Lions of Teranga cruised through to the final. Nevertheless, the Netherlands team seems superior on paper, up against the Senegalese who often struggle offensively. Logically, we see them as the winners here.
✔ Exact Score Prediction: Senegal vs Netherlands
In the opening match of the World Cup 2022, the Netherlands should bring it home, but the encounter may well be tight. For our prediction of the exact score, we foresee a Dutch victory by only the smallest of margins.
Victory for the Netherlands
The Dutch are not faced with the easiest of teams. However, they should, under normal circumstances, be able to bring home the victory. Either 1-0 or 2-1 seem to us to be the most likely results.
Draw
With their solid defence, the Lions of Teranga could give the Netherlands some serious problems. A draw with goals seems more than possible, 1-1 or 2-2 for example.
Victory for Senegal
Winning against the Flying Dutchmen would be quite a performance for Senegal and would set them up to qualify for the knockout stages. However, we would not bank on this rather uncertain outcome. We see the Dutch taking it with a 1-0 or 2-1 victory, but can’t foresee there being a wider margin than that.
✔ Half-time/Full-time prediction: Draw 1st half; Netherlands 2nd half
Senegal might be able to hold off the Netherlands in the first half, thanks to their solid defence. But the Dutch squad should be able to press the attack in the second half to bring home the win.
✔ Scorer predictions: Senegal – Netherlands
Liverpool attacker Sadio Mané is obviously the star and the number 1 goal scorer for Senegal. On the Dutch side, Memphis Depay remains the principal asset of the Dutch attacking force, alongside the Tottenham attacker, Steven Bergwijn.
✔ Double Chance Scoring predictions: Sadio Mané/Memphis Depay
The opening match is of capital importance for the rest of the competition. The two stars of their respective teams, Sadio Mané and Memphis Depay will need to show up if the sides hope to make the best possible start to the 2022 World Cup.
📄 Match Analysis: Senegal vs. The Netherlands
Analyse before betting
Senegal finished first in its group by a long way in the first part of the African zone qualifiers, with double the points of the runner-up, Togo (16 points to Togo’s 8). Finishing in first allowed the Lions of Teranga to come up against Egypt in a two-leg match. This close match ended in a penalty shoot-out, and in the end, fortune smiled on Sadio Mané’s teammates.
The Netherlands finished first in their group in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. But their main rival, Turkey, finished only two points behind them. The Turkish were the only ones to defeat The Flying Dutchmen in the qualifiers, on the very first day.
Team Form
As of last February’s winners of the African Cup of Nations, who triumphed against Egypt, Senegal looks like the most in-form team in Africa at the moment. The Lions of Teranga also came out winners of their two-legged match in March, against Egypt once again.
The Netherlands are sitting on two rather satisfying results in friendlies played throughout the month of March. Louis van Gaal’s men effectively beat Denmark (4-2) before managing a close draw with Germany (1-1).
