Senegal

OF the five teams that will represent Africa at the World Cup, the Lions of Teranga are the one team that inspires little confidence. They almost didn’t make it here. They needed a replay against South Africa to gain momentum and eventually top a group that also had Burkina Faso and Cape Verde. That replay was due to controversial Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey being fingered in a match manipulating scheme from betting syndicates.

Senegal took the second chance and ran away with it. But they were far from convincing despite having a decent team led by Sadio Mane. Even in the Africa Cup of Nations last year they didn’t look that great against strong teams. They seem to rely too much on Mane. That reliance will be suicidal in the World Cup as they are up against teams who work well as a unit. Poland, Japan and Colombia might not be forces in the global game but they can pack a mean punch that can floor the best in the world. Senegal at the moment aren’t even the best in Africa.

But Aliou Cisse, former Senegal captain, is a shrewd tactician who knows what this team is capable of doing with the right inspiration. Cisse led Senegal to a remarkable run in the 2002 World Cup after they lost the Afcon final to Cameroon. The Lions of Teranga devoured the then world champions France in the opening round and went as far as the quarter-finals. No one gave them a chance to even make it out of their group then, just like not many people are backing them 16 years later. Senegal has a number of creative ball players who can run rings around Poland, Japan and Colombia. But over-reliance on individual brilliance is their Achilles heel. If they can come together and be a stronger unit they could cause an upset.

Star Player: Sadio Mane

Liverpool sent a private jet to Gabon last year to immediately whisk Mane out of the country and back to England the moment Senegal were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations, such is his importance to his club. In Mane’s absence Liverpool won just once in seven matches. Before his departure the English side was lethal.

He is part of what is probably the most potent attacking trio in European football at the moment, along with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firminho. If he can bring his club form to Senegal the Lions of Teranga are in with a chance. Mane is fast, skilful and deadly in front of goal. The 26-year-old who has scored 18 goals for Liverpool this season has broad shoulders to carry any team. He carried a limping Senegal to Russia and will be expected to continue doing so in the global showpiece.

“What Mane has is a gift from God,” Cisse was quoted after Mane took Senegal to the quarter-finals of the Afcon. “I am not the one who has helped him to lift his game to this level or who makes him the person he is. Of course it’s good for him to be in the team he is in at the moment, a team that gives him opportunities to improve, and he just needs to carry on what he’s doing.”

Mane can only be stopped by the injuries that have troubled him. He also has a good head on his shoulders like Salah which means he doesn’t have any prima donna antics that many players who shine in Europe come with in their national teams, especially when they struggle to meet the European conditions due to their limited financial means. Mane puts Senegal first and he even arrived for the World Cup qualifiers with Liverpool saying he is unfit to play.

Senegal at the World Cup

The Senegalese have participated at the World Cup once. They also qualified for the 1966 edition but withdrew from that tournament. SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN 2002 Quarter-finals – Came second in their group and beat Sweden 2-1 aet in the round of 16. P5 W2 D2 L1 GF7 GA6 RUSSIA 2018 FIXTURES Tuesday: v Poland, 5pm June 24: v Japan, 5pm June 28: v Colombia, 4pm