Senegal, known as the "Horn of West Africa", is located in the desert and tropics, and the weather is hot all year round, with highs of 45°C. However, in Senegal, it is not only the weather that is hot, Senegal's love of football has reached the point of national obsession. The Senegalese team is also known as the "Tranga Lion" because it means "hospitable" in the local language, and the image of a lion on the emblem of the Senegalese national team. Senegal, as the leader of African football, has the ability to stir up the storm at this World Cup.
Team overview
Senegal are currently ranked 18th in FIFA and are the highest-ranked African team in this World Cup. The Senegalese national team has a modest history, but on the World Cup stage, they achieved the pinnacle of miracles 20 years ago. In 2002, he reached the quarter-finals of his first World Cup appearance, defeating strong defending champion France in the first round to create an eye-popping dark horse record. After missing three consecutive World Cups, they reached the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Senegal's second World Cup appearance, where Senegal finished third in the group due to a fair play score disadvantage and missed the round of 16. In addition, Senegal won the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations football tournament held earlier this year, and its courage is unstoppable.
In this World Cup African qualifier, Mane's Senegal and Salah-led Egypt team after two legs of home and away fighting, Senegal drew 1-1 with Egypt in regular time, 3-1 on penalties, defeated old rival Egypt again, and successfully qualified for the Qatar World Cup.
Introduction of the head coach and key players
Aliou Cisse is Senegal's current head coach. Cisse's first World Cup appearance as captain was the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, and he immediately achieved a good result in the quarterfinals. What Cisse probably didn't expect was that his second participation in the World Cup was to lead Senegal to the 2018 World Cup in Russia as a Senegalese coach. At the beginning of 2022, he led Senegal to the African Cup of Nations championship.
Sadio Mane, a striker who currently plays for FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, is Senegal's number one star. Originally from a small remote village in Senegal's Segiu province, Mane has become a football superstar in his own right. Mane has won the African Footballer of the Year, the Premier League Golden Boot and Liverpool's Player of the Season. Known for his explosiveness and perfect balance on the field, Mane represented Senegal at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the 2012 London Olympics, four African Cups of Nations and the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. Mane is Senegal's scoring guarantee on the pitch, both in terms of explosiveness, speed and counter-attacking and finishing ability, he is a natural goalscorer, but at the same time, he is selfless, active in running and even able to participate in defense. Mane's role in Senegal cannot be shaken, and with this sharp knife alone, Senegal's edge in the World Cup is trustworthy.
Edouard Mendy, a goalkeeper who plays for Chelsea FC in the Premier League. As Chelsea's main goalkeeper, Mendy made 12 appearances in the 2020-21 Champions League, keeping nine clean sheets, helping the team to the title. Mendy is the epitome of the modern goalkeeper, with long arms, quick movements and quick reflexes, and Mendy's strength and speed, with a wide range of control inside and outside the goal, giving him almost all the advantages a good goalkeeper would need.
Calidu Koulibaly is a central defender who currently plays for Chelsea FC in the Premier League. In May 2012, Coulibaly made his debut for the Senegal national football team and then represented Senegal at the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cup and the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Koulibaly has a strong body, excellent positional sense and possession, and he combines body and speed perfectly. If he can get stronger at competing for headers, he will become a more dominant player in the future.
World Cup advantages and disadvantages and scenarios
This Qatar World Cup, Senegal and the Netherlands, Ecuador, Qatar in Group A, Qatar as the host is the first time to participate in the World Cup, Ecuador's strength is not above Senegal, the biggest threat to the lions is mainly the Netherlands, therefore, Senegal as long as the defensive counterattack to the extreme, from the group stage qualification is not too much of a problem.
Today's Senegalese team has a luxurious squad, most of the players are stars from the five major European leagues, most of Senegal's players have been baptized by European football in the five major leagues, it can be said that they are a fairly European team, and the team has strong players before and after. Mane leads Senegal's front, and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has strengthened Senegal's defense, and the overall quality is quite good, which is one of Africa's top teams. But in this World Cup, Mane's play is crucial, he will determine whether Senegal can be a dark horse, so Mane needs to stay fit and in excellent form.
This is Senegal's third World Cup, and it is also the combination of two generations of superstars, the "Tranga Lions" are roaring, Senegal's World Cup trip is worth looking forward to.
World Cup Group A Schedule:
Round 1:
2022/11/21 00:00 Qatar vs Ecuador
2022/11/22 00:00 Senegal vs Netherlands
Round 2:
2022/11/25 21:00 Qatar vs Senegal
2022/11/26 00:00 Netherlands vs Ecuador
Round 3:
2022/11/29 23:00 Netherlands vs Qatar
2022/11/29 23:00 Ecuador vs Senegal