FIFA Ranking: 18
Odds: 80-1
Previous tournaments:
Senegal are one of three African countries to reach a World Cup quarter-final – the best achievement by a team from the continent. They did so on their debut appearance in 2002, when they upset holders France in the opening game in Seoul. Senegal qualified again for the last World Cup in Russia and lost out on a place in the knockout stage on the number of cautions received in the first round after they were tied in the group standings with Japan on points, goal difference and goals scored.
How they qualified:
Senegal were the top-ranked team in the African qualifiers, earning a bye in the group phase which started last September. They romped through their group, winning five of their six matches against Congo, Namibia and Togo, who were the only side to take points off them in a 1-1 draw. Senegal then met Egypt in the playoffs in a repeat of their Africa Cup of Nations final success six weeks earlier and won a shootout again, after the two-legged tie in March ended 1-1 on aggregate, to book a place in Qatar.
Form guide:
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse led a chorus of critics demanding to have Cup of Nations qualifying matches, scheduled for the June and September international window, postponed to allow the Qatar-bound African teams to organise more testing World Cup warm-up games. He was partially successful, after Senegal beat Benin and Rwanda in Cup of Nations qualifiers in June, and a postponement of the campaign in September allowed Senegal to instead beat Bolivia in a friendly in France and then draw 1-1 with Iran in Austria.
The Lion of Teranga Carry Africa’s hopes to Qatar
African champions Senegal carry the continent’s best prospect of breaking barriers at the World Cup finals and hope to atone for a miserable last tournament in Russia where they were eliminated on disciplinary points.
Senegal are one of three African nations who have reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, following Cameroon’s 1990 exploits with a dream debut in 2002, which included beating holders France in the opening game of the tournament. Ghana also progressed to the last eight in 2010 but that was the last time Africa proved able to make an impression on the tournament.
In Russia four years ago, all five of the continent’s representatives went out in the first round, including Senegal, who were tied with Japan but lost out because they had collected more bookings in their opening three games.
The team has had a significant overhaul since, boosted by a contingent of French-born players, including goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, defender Abdou Diallo and midfielders Pape Gueye and Nampalys Mendy.
Senegal have put much effort into recruiting players from the growing European-based diaspora, contributing to their winning the African title for the first time in February.
But it was stalwarts such as captain Kalildou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gana Gueye who proved the backbone of their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, and will likely provide the driving force for the team in Qatar too.
One drawback is that many regulars lack game time at club level this season. Senegal coach Aliou Cisse will be looking for a bit more than match fitness if Senegal are to have any chance of emerging from their first-round group, where they take on the Netherlands first on Nov. 21, followed by hosts Qatar and then Ecuador.
However, Senegal’s chances could take a major blow after it was announced on Nov. 9 that Mane has sustained an injury to his right fibula and will miss Bayern Munich’s last league game before the World Cup, leaving his participation at the tournament in doubt.
Mane had to leave the pitch 20 minutes into Bayern’s crushing 6-1 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Tuesday on the 8th of November and has been ruled out of S the 12th of November trip to Schalke 04.
Mane scored the winning spot kick for Senegal as they beat Egypt on penalties to earn their first Africa Cup of Nations final in February.
Announced team :
