Match Today: Senegal vs Ecuador 29-11-2022 Qatar World Cup 2022

Senegal and Ecuador have everything to play for as they go into the 2022 World Cup on Match 3, with each of the top three teams in the group getting a chance to advance to the Round of 16.

On Tuesday, the international stadium will be the decision-maker. Ecuador goes into the match with four points which puts them level with leaders Netherlands, while Senegal is currently in third place with three points. Senegal, who beat hosts Qatar in their final match, will certainly see themselves qualify for the round of 16 with today's victory.

A draw could also spell their success if the Netherlands lose to Qatar and Senegal are the best in the post-goal difference and head-to-head scenarios that can be applied. A win for Senegal combined with a draw or loss for the Netherlands would see the Teranga Lions top the group.

For Ecuador, a win or a draw against Senegal guarantees them progression to the knockout stages. A loss to Ecuador would leave them needing a loss to the Netherlands and a tie-breaker on superior goal difference to qualify.

If both Ecuador and the Dutch win, the group winner will be decided on goal difference and goals scored – if this is also the same, fair play points (the team with fewer yellow red cards) will decide the winner between the two.

While Ecuador are one of the dark horses in this competition, they will deserve a lot of the credit for their mature performance against the Netherlands in their second match, which ended in a 1-1 draw. They conceded very early in the game but didn't panic, until Enner Valencia managed to score the equalizer moments after the Dutch kept putting pressure on them.

They even had good chances to win the match but in the end the tie was fair for both sides. This result means that Ecuador are now undefeated in their last nine matches and have an impressive seven clean sheets on that run.

That goal against the Netherlands was the first they've gone into eight games but they'll want to take a closer look at the Valencia gem. The experienced forward has scored all of his goals (six) in his last five World Cup matches.

Ecuador entered this match unbeaten in four World Cup matches. Ecuador's last nine matches have all yielded less than a goal, in part due to their shortcomings in attack, scoring more than one goal in just two of their last 15 matches.

With the exception of friendly matches, Ecuador achieved three victories in the last 10 matches, and kept clean sheets in four matches. Senegal scored more than one goal in one of its last five matches. Six of Senegal's last 10 competitive matches have produced less than a goal. Eight of Ecuador's last 10 competitive matches have produced fewer than a goal.

Each of Ecuador's last nine matches has ended with less than a goal. Ecuador have scored more than one goal in only two of their last 15 matches. Ecuador has seven clean sheets in its last nine matches. Senegal have conceded more than one goal in one of their last five matches.

Senegal will be looking to build on their 3-1 win over hosts Qatar, as they rebound from a 2-0 defeat by the Netherlands, which remains their second defeat in 10 matches. Their victory over Qatar was their tenth in 16 games but they have only managed clean sheets in their last five matches.

Excluding friendlies and non-FIFA matches, Senegal have only two victories and have won seven of their last 10 matches, keeping four clean sheets and six of them ending with less than 2.5 goals. One of the areas to work on with Senegal is their focus, especially in the second half.

They've conceded six second-half goals in their last 10 matches. In their first two matches in this competition they have conceded three goals, all of which came in the second half and they now have no clean sheets in their last nine World Cup matches. From a more positive angle, they have only failed to score in three of their last ten World Cup matches.

Both countries have major players infected. In their last two matches, Ecuador had to withdraw their captain Enier Valencia with a knee injury. Just as in the first match, the striker was hit by ice on his knee after being unable to continue in the closing stages of the Netherlands match.

He doubts this match, but Ecuador has not indicated that it is serious enough to disqualify him. The man who has scored all the goals in the last five World Cup matches in Ecuador is no ordinary player and South American players will be praying his knee injury is not serious.

As for Senegal, the big boost they had in the last match was the declaration of defender Abdou Diallo as fit for the match after being substituted in the first match. He lasted the whole match against Qatar and will certainly be in contention for a starting berth.

However, Senegal will be deprived of the services of Crystal Palace midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté, who was injured in the opening match. The African champions will be missing out on his versatile attribute that enables him to provide cover at the back while simultaneously presenting a threat in attack.

No players have been suspended for this match, and West Africa must come into this game in good health.