Senegal U20 and Japan U20 will battle for three points in a Group C fixture at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup on Sunday.
Senegal are participating in their fifth U20 World Cup and booked their spot in the tournament by winning the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. The Young Lions of Teranga dispatched Gambia with a routine 2-0 victory in Cairo to maintain Senegal's dominance of African football at all levels.
Japan are appearing in their 11th FIFA U20 World Cup, with their best performance coming in their runners-up finish in 1999. The Blue Samurai made it to the semifinals of the 2023 AFC U20 Asian Cup to book their spot in the World Cup.
Colombia and Israel are the other two teams making up the quartet in Group C.
Senegal U20 vs Japan U20 Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between both sides at this level.
- Senegal are currently on a 12-game unbeaten run, winning 11 games in this sequence, including the last 10 on the bounce.
- Japan have scored at least two goals in each of their last five matches.
- Senegal won the 2023 U20 Africa Cup of Nations without conceding a single goal in six games.
- Senegal's only defeats at this level in the last two years have been on penalties.
- Five of Japan's last six games have produced three goals or more.
Senegal U20 vs Japan U20 Prediction
Senegal have had a remarkable year in African football. Their maiden Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2022 was followed by maiden victories at Under-17 and Under-20 levels, as well as in the 2022 CAF African Nations Championship.
The West African nation's utter dominance of the U20 Afcon earlier in the year sent a statement of intent to the rest of the world and Senegal will be among the teams to watch out for in Argentina.
Japan, for their part, are no pushovers and will be seeking maximum points in their opening game to put them in good stead for the knockout rounds. However, Senegal have been the more consistent side and we are backing Malick Daf's side to claim a narrow win with goals at both ends.
Prediction: Senegal 2-1 Japan
Senegal U20 vs Japan U20 Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Senegal to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score
Tip 3 - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 4 - Highest scoring half: Second half