Senegal will be looking to do better in Russia than they did 16 years ago in Japan/Korea. That will mean getting out of their group and making the quarter-finals at least.
With a group that involves Poland, Japan and Colombia, the Teranga Lions are in a relatively manageable group according to pundits. Their first game against Poland will be crucial to their chances of progression.
Manager Aliou Cisse, who captained the 2002 team will have the task of psyching his players up to believe that they can do better than the 2002 squad.
So far, Senegal have played five World Cup games, won two, drawn two and lost one. They have scored seven goals and conceded six.
Below the full group fixtures of the team
Poland vs. Senegal – June 19, 2018 – Moscow
Japan vs. Senegal – June 24, 2018 – Ekaterinburg
Senegal vs. Colombia – June 28, 2018 – Samara
Fun facts about Senegal
- Team alias: The Teranga Lions
- Manager: Aliou Cisse (Senegal)
- Skipper: Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham United
- Star player: Sadio Mane of Liverpool
- World Cup record: Debut outing in 2002 in Japan/Korea
- World Cup goals: Three (Two in 1934, one in 1990)
- Coach Cisse was captain of the team in 2002
“For the last three years we have been together, this group has been working hard, focusing on continuity and cohesion, but the criteria of competitiveness was part of the selection equation,” Senegal’s coach Aliou Cisse told a news conference during the announcement of his team for the tournament.
Africa will be looking to go at least a step further that the quarter-final limit – the furthest an African team has gone. Will the Teranga Lions be the team to make continental history at the global showpiece? Time – only time will tell.
