World Cup 2022: Qatar v Senegal Betting Preview & Odds
World Cup Qatar 2022: Qatar v Senegal betting preview. The host Nation needs an excellent result to keep their knockout qualification alive against Senegal at the Al Thumama Stadium. Join us as we assess both teams and highlight the players to watch. We also make predictions in the popular Over / Under goals market and our prediction of the final score.
World Cup debutants Qatar will hope not to emulate South Africa, who failed to qualify for the knockout stage as hosts in the 2010 World Cup but face an uphill task after losing their first game 0-2 against Ecuador. They already hold the unwanted distinction of being the first hosts to lose their opening fixture. They hope home advantage and the mammoth crowd will cheer them to victory against the African Champions.
Senegal will have to endure the most significant tournament in the world without their leading man Sadio Mane. The Lions of Teranga have the depth to challenge the hosts, with the Netherlands looking destined to top the group after beating Senegal with two late goals in a 2-0 win.
The fight for second place looks very intense. We highlight the players and stats that could be useful before you invest in your bet.
Qatar v Ecuador Betting Odds and Markets
The most popular markets are the full-time result or the over/under. See the latest odds-on offer in the tables below.
Full-Time Result
| Match Result Betting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Qatar Win | Draw | Senegal Win |
| 5/2 | 23/10 | 21/20 |
As you can see above, bookmakers fancy a defeat to the host nation; 888sport has a Senegal win at 21/20, draw (23/10) with the host’s win given 5/2 odds.
Qatar has won two (Honduras 1-0 and Guatemala 2-0), drawn two (Chile 2-2 and Jamaica 1-1) and lost 0-2 against Canada before the tournament. They lost their first game 0-2 against Ecuador without a single shot on target and will need to raise their game significantly.
Senegal has won three pre-World Cup (Liberia 3 – 0, Guinea 1 – 0, and Bolivia 2 – 0), drawn one (Iran 1 – 1), and lost two (Liberia 2 – 1 and Guinea on penalties after a 1 – 1 draw). They lost their first game against Netherlands, goals from Gakpo (84’minutes) and Klaassen (90’+9minutes) doing the damage.
Over/Under Market
| Match Result Betting | |
|---|---|
| Over 2.5 Goals | Under 2.5 Goals |
| 2/1 | 9/5 |
It’s pretty tight in the over/under-betting market, which is understandable. For example, the under 2.5 market, which we believe is highly likely given the status of the two attacks, has 9/5 odds, while over 2.5 odds are priced at 2/1. Qatar’s first game was under 2.5.
Players to watch – Qatar:
Almoez Ali captains his professional club A-Duhail. The 26-year-old was born in Sudan but now plays for Qatar, where he has emerged as one of their most promising stars. He is their record goal scorer with thirty-four goals making just seventy-four appearances. The maestro has been in fine form this season with thirteen goal involvements (seven goals, six assists) for his club in seventeen appearances. He scored six goals in their eight qualifying games and four in five in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Few players deserve credit in Qatar’s first game, where the hosts lost 2-0. Defender Homam Ahmed was the best of a bad bunch, winning three ariel battles in the game.
Ecuador beat Qatar in the opening World Cup match, outplaying the host team 2-0 in front of more than 67,000 fans at Al Bayt Stadium.
It’s the first time in 92 years of soccer’s biggest event that a host team has lost its opening game. https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-qatar-middle-east-11a629d964a0c052fd01faa50722a70e?taid=637a6fc2cefefa0001c5f8cb&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem&utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter
— The Associated Press (@AP) November 20, 2022
Players to watch – Senegal:
Kalidou Koulibaly has endured a tough start to life in the Premier League but is still regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. He will captain his side through the tournament, hoping his experience playing in Italian sides Napoli and England will help him guide his side well. He has a huge physical presence, is good on the ball, and has excellent defensive instinct. In addition, the Chelsea man is a threat on the attack on set pieces, having scored against Spurs this season.
Kalidou Koulibaly could have been a world champion 🏆 with France 🇫🇷🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/5KC8jEhgUM
— GOAL Africa (@GOALAfrica) November 19, 2022
Match Prediction: Qatar 0 – 2 Senegal
Senegal boasts a solid defence but looks short on the attack without their star man Sadio Mane. Qatar is a decent side compared to what they were a few years back, but the mood around the camp will be deflated after their ineffective showing in the first game. Another 0-2 defeat seems likely.
Qatar v Senegal, Group A, Al Thumama Stadium. Kick-off is at 1 pm on Friday (UK time).
Qatar Squad:
Goalkeepers: Saad Alsheeb (Al Sadd), Meshaal Barsham (Al Sadd), Yousef Hassan (Al Gharafa).
Defenders: Pedro Miguel (Al Sadd), Musaab Khidir (Al Sadd), Tarek Salman (Al Sadd), Bassam Al-Rawi (Al Duhail), Boualem Khoukhi (Al Sadd), Abdelkarim Hassan (Al Sadd), Homam Ahmed (Al Gharafa), Jassem Gaber (Al Arabi).
Midfielders: Ali Asad (Al Sadd), Assim Modibo (Al Duhail), Mohammed Waad (Al Sadd), Salem Al-Hajri (Al Sadd), Moustafa Tarek (Al Sadd), Karim Boudiaf (Al Duhail), Abdelaziz Hatim (Al Rayyan), Ismail Mohamad (Al Duhail).
Forwards: Naif Alhadhrami (Al Rayyan), Ahmed Alaaeldin (Al Gharafa), Hassan Al-Haydos (Al Sadd), Khalid Muneer (Al Wakrah), Akram Afif (Al Sadd), Almoez Ali (Al Duhail), Mohamed Muntari (Al Duhail)
Senegal Squad:
Goalkeepers: Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers), Alfred Gomis (Stade Rennes), Eduoard Mendy (Chelsea).
Defenders: Fode Ballo Toure (AC Milan), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiakos), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis).
Midfielders: Pathe Ismael Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Olympique Marseille), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Mamdou Loum (Reading), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Moustapha Name (Pafos FC), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor), Bamba Dieng (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Ilimane Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Ismaila Sarr (Watford).
You can learn more about placing World Cup bets on our World Cup betting page. In addition, our World Cup fixtures page will bring you all the latest match previews and betting tips. With Sadio Mane out of the tournament through injury, who should start upfront for Senegal? Use our World Cup Squad Builder to pick your best 11.
