The Senegalese suffered, but they beat the Equatorians (2-1). They finish second in group B and qualify for the eliminatory phase for the first time since 2002.
by Grégor Brandy
Twenty years later, Senegal will review the knockout stages of the World Cup. In the “final” of group A, the Senegalese took precedence over the Equatorians (2-1), Monday, November 29, to snatch a second participation in their history at this stage of the competition.
“It’s a great moment, we have been waiting for this for a very long time, but it is the fruit of our work, reacted Idrissa Gueye, at the microphone of BeIN Sports, after the meeting. We continue our progress, we have been African champions and today we pass the group phase, but our goal is to go as far as possible in this competition. We will have to rest to win the knockout stages because we do not count ‘Stop there. “
Third of the group before the start of the game, the Senegalese had to prevail to qualify or snatch a draw and count on an unexpected victory of the Qataris against the Dutch. Unsurprisingly, the Netherlands easily beat Qatar, which leaves competition without the slightest point, a first for a host country.
relying only on themselves, the Senegalese grow from the start. In a tight and intense match, it is on an Ecuadorian fault that the meeting ends up settled. At the 43
An eighth without Idrissa Gueye
largely dominated in the first period, Equatorians return from the locker room with more determination. The sorting players are rewarded with their efforts at the 68 e minute on a corner from the right. The ball is first deflected before landing in the Caicedo months, which only has it to push it to the bottom of the opposing nets (1-1).
But the Ecuadorian joy is only short -lived. Less than three minutes later, on a Senegalese free kick, Kalidou Koulibaly is on the trajectory of the ball after a scramble in the South American surface. The Senegalese captain then sends a superb strike in the small opposite net to restore the advantage to his own (2-1, 70
Four years after a cruel elimination in hens, the teranga lions join their elders from 2002, two years to the day after the death of Papa Bouba Diop, goalscorer against the 2002 World Cup. The Senegalese, second of the Group A behind the Netherlands, do not yet know their opponent, but they will face the winner of Group B. Choose: England, Iran, the United States or Wales.
They will however have to do without Idrissa Gueye. The former PSG midfielder has been warned for the second time since the start of the World Cup and will therefore be suspended for the next match