On the sidelines, tactician Aliou Cissè knew what was in store, the nerves of playing on such a stage, the heavy burden of carrying a nation’s, and by extension, continent’s, hopes of advancing.
The last time Senegal made it out of the Group Stages was back in the 2002 edition, where they cruised all the way to the quarter-finals becoming only the second African country then to have made it that far after Cameroon in 1990.
Since then, only Ghana has achieved the feat in 2010.
In 2002, Cissè fought for the Lions of Teranga not at the touchline but on the pitch as captain. As he guided a Sadio Mane-less Senegal in a tricky group A, he maintained the confidence that he had a squad capable of going all the way to the final.
Cissé’s side lost 2-0 to the Netherlands in their opening fixture in Qatar but beat the hosts, who were also in Group A, 3-1 to keep alive their hopes of advancing.
The Ecuador encounter was the decider.
In emphatic style, skipper Kalidou Koulibaly netted the winner in the 70th minute for a thoroughly deserved 2-1 victory over the South Americans. Watford winger Ismaila Sarr had opened the scoring in the match with a well-taken spot kick in the 44th minute.
By the bounce, Sarr beat Genk’s right-back, Angelo Preciado, and the Senegalese chased the ball into the box. He knocked it on with a clever first touch, and Piero Hincapie, who reacted late to Sarr’s run, crashed into the Watford ace, and the referee pointed straight to the penalty spot.
In the absence of Senegal’s usual penalty taker, Mane, Sarr took the penalty and scored. Spectacularly, the 24-year-old took a slow run-up to the spot, stuttering as he stared down the goalkeeper before slotting his effort into the bottom right corner, leaving Ecuador shot stopper Hernan Galindez static in the middle of his line.
Senegal carried the slight advantage to the half-time break. Ecuador came back for the second half, seemingly hungrier for a goal, and understandably so, as their side only needed a draw to advance to the competition’s knockout stage.
The Lions of Teranga’s decision to sit back and defend their lead was a costly mistake as the South Americans equalized in the 67th minute. It was a huge goal for Ecuador, one that had the potential to send them to the round of 16. Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moisès Caicedo was left unmarked at the far post in a corner kick. He easily slated his effort into the back of the net, much to the celebration of the Ecuadorians.
However, their party was short-lived. Chelsea center-back Koulibaly found himself in perfect position three minutes later, unmarked, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to fire a superb volley straight past Galindez to put Senegal ahead again.
Cissé’s men held on to the lead despite incessant Ecuador’s attack to seal a place in the round of 16, where they will meet England, who won Group B after defeating Iran and Wales and playing to a scoreless draw with the US.
Forty-six-year-old former Paris St.-Germain midfielder and former Senegal captain Cisse’ has been credited with many positive changes witnessed at the team since he became coach in 2015. Still, leading the squad in the knockout stages of a World Cup will be a new assignment for the man who guided Senegal to their maiden Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title earlier this year.
In an interview with New York Times (NYT) after qualification for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the tactician maintained that his team would be in Qatar to win it. “Few editions ago, we went to the World Cup to discover the competition. Then, we were there to learn. Now, we’re here to compete. African teams are going to Qatar to win.
When I look at my midfielders, my defenders, and my goalkeeper, I have nothing to envy, say, France or Spain. Koulibaly is as valuable as Marquinhos for Brazil or John Stones for England. Hugo Lloris isn’t better than Èdouard Mendy. That’s the kind of confidence I want my players to have. I want them to tell themselves that if France can win, why not us?” Cisse’ told NYT.