Senegal gets Africa’s 1st win by upsetting Poland

MOSCOW—Pele was unparalleled as a soccer player. But as a prognosticator? Not so much.

In fact, the three-time World Cup champion’s forecasts have been so laughably wrong, former Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari once advised, “If you want to win a title, you have to listen to Pele and then do the opposite.”

But there was one prediction Pele made that seemed so solid no one begged to differ. An African team, he said, soon would win the World Cup.

Nearly three decades later, we’re still waiting to find out which one.

Africa is off to another dismal start in this World Cup, with its first four teams to play losing before Senegal broke that streak Tuesday with a 2-1 win over Poland at Spartak Stadium.

And Senegal wasn’t the only country celebrating.

“Senegal today represents the whole of the African continent,” coach Aliou Cisse said through a translator. “I get phone calls from everywhere. “We’re also proud to represent Africa.” Cisse, too, thought Africa would be further along by now. He was captain of the Senegalese team that stunned defending champion France and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 tournament. No African team has gone further. If anything, the continent has gone backward, its teams combining to win just 11 of 58 games since. Only four African teams have managed to get out of the group stage in the last three World Cups.

“There’s definitely been a decline,” Peter Odemwingie, who played in two World Cups for Nigeria, told the BBC.

“Nigeria had one of the best African squads at the 1994 World Cup. We were knocking on the door. We won the 1996 Olympics by beating Brazil and Argentina with all their stars.

“That period was like, ‘Yes, it’s coming.’ “

Now it seems as far off as ever. With Egypt’s loss to Russia late Tuesday ending its chances of reaching the knockout stage, Africa’s five teams — none are ranked among the top 20 in the world — are a combined 1-5 in this World Cup.

The obstacles come more from organization and support than talent. Four years ago in Brazil, Ghana’s players had to boycott training to get money that had been promised to them; their government eventually sent more than $3 million in cash by plane to settle the debt. And Cameroon’s players arrived late in Brazil because of a dispute over bonus

payments.

“It takes time. We have realities that aren’t there on other continents,” Cisse said. “But we have a lot of quality, and I’m sure that one day, African teams will be able to win tournaments like Brazil and Germany.

“We have no inferiority complex with European countries; you see lots of Africa players at major clubs.”

In fact, 10 of the 11 players Cisse started against Poland play on major first- or seconddivision clubs on the continent. Yet Senegal relied more on luck than skill for their two goals Tuesday.

On the first, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye’s shot from just outside the penalty area appeared headed directly into the gloved handed of Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny when it struck the leg of defender Thiago Cionek and caromed into the net for a firsthalf own goal.

The second goal was even more quirky.

During a stoppage in play to allow trainers to help forward M’baye Niang off the field, Senegal signaled that Cheikh N’Doye would be coming on to replace his injured teammate. But as the substitution was being announced on the scoreboard, Niang protested, insisting he could continue.

The timing proved fortuitous because just as center referee Nawaf Shukralla waved Niang back on, Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak put his foot into a

long back pass that N’Doye, sprinting off the sidelines, dashed after. Poland’s Jan Bednarek, who had no idea Niang had left the sideline, was pushed off the ball, and when Szczesny was late in arriving to help, N’Doye wound up with an easy tap-in for the goal.

“We were very surprised,” Polish coach Adam Nawalka said through a translator. “The players thought there would be a substitute coming into the pitch. That’s why there was a big misunderstanding.”

Poland halved the lead with four minutes left in regulation, with Krychowiak heading in a long free kick from Kamil Grosicki. But it could get no closer.

As for Africa’s getting closer to a World Cup champion, Cisse remains hopeful.

“I have the certainty that one day an African country will win the World Cup,” he said. “Some 20 to 25 years ago, African teams came just to be a part of the World Cup. Things have developed now.

“We’ve shown that we can do much more. We can participate and have excellent results. We just need to go to the next phase.”

Bad luck turns good as Cheryshev drives Russia DPA

ST. PETERSBURG — World Cup hosts Russia are flying with six points from two games after beating Egypt 3-1 on Tuesday in St Petersburg, but it was a stroke of bad luck which kick-started their tournament.

Key playmaker Alan Dzagoev

suffered a hamstring injury in the 24th minute of their opening match against Saudi Arabia and his replacement Cheryshev struck twice in a 50 win.

The Villarreal midfielder, who has just two goals in two seasons in La Liga, then scored again against Egypt to tie with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournament’s top scorer on three.

Russia came into the World Cup without a win in their previous seven matches but Cheryshev’s form is one of the factors that has helped them score eight goals at the tournament and concede just one, with maximum points from two games.

The 27-year-old was not a regular starter for Russia before the tournament but now appears a key component in Stanislav Cherchesov’s side even when Dzagoev returns, which could be as soon as their third game against Uruguay on Monday.

Cherchesov believes every player in his squad is ready to contribute when required.

“All 23 players who are on the list should be prepared to play, there are no doubts whatsoever that I have over anyone on my squad list,” the coach said.

Cheryshev has repaid the faith and was awarded Man of the Match by FIFA after his performance against Egypt left Russia on the brink of reaching the tournament’s last 16.

The midfielder was unable to speak after the game to fulfil his media duties as the game’s best player because of a post-match drugs test, but

his performance had already spoken loud and clear.

Osako’s header lifts Japan past 10-man Colombia DPA

SARANSK, Russia — Yuya Osako’s header gave Japan a 21 win over 10-man Colombia in the opening Group H game for both teams at the World Cup on Tuesday.

Osako nodded Keisuke Honda’s corner home in the 73rd minute at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.

Colombia’s Carlos Sanchez was shown the first red card of the tournament in the third minute for a deliberate handball, resulting in Shinji Kagawa’s opening penalty.

Juan Quintero’s clever freekick pulled Colombia level before the break but Osako rose above Santiago Arias to head in off the right post to settle the matter.

The match started in lively fashion as Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez let a high ball bounce over him to release Osako in on goalkeeper David Ospona, who came out to save with his feet.

The ball went out Kagawa and his goal-bound follow-up hit the outstretched arm of Sanchez, drawing an immediate red from referee Damir Skomina.

A lengthy protest followed before Kagawa finally converted from the spot in the sixth minute.

Radamal Falcao then sent Colombia’s first attempt straight at Eiji Kawashima while Takashi Inui shot just wide of the far post at the other end.