Senegal’s first objective is to clear first round: Diouf
FORMER Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf stated that the African champions’ first goal in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is to advance to the next round ahead of hosts Qatar, the Netherlands, and Ecuador.
Diouf, a member of the glorious Senegalese team that reached the last eight of the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, spoke at a media gathering on Friday during Senegal’s training at Al Duhail.
Senegal have been tipped as the most likely African team to reach the World Cup semifinals, but Diouf, an ambassador with the Teranga Lions, says it’s one step at a time.
“Our first objective would be to pass the first round and afterwards we are going to talk again to see what we have to do again.”
Diouf, who was instrumental in Senegal’s remarkable 1-0 victory over France in Seoul in a memorable performance that made the entire football world sit up and take notice, said the African champions fear no team as they prepare to face the Dutch in their group opener.
“I don’t want to say we don’t want to play this or that team, but I know some teams don’t want to play us because they know we have a good team with experienced players.”
About the team’s injured talisman Sadio Mane, he said, “Mane is out of the World Cup, but he’ll never leave us, he’s always with us as he calls his teammates.”
“We totally love Sadio’s participation in this World Cup, and he went above and beyond to prepare for it. And, of course, every player wants to shine at the World Cup.
“We’ll do everything we can to make him proud. And Senegal must demonstrate to the entire world that they are the African champions.”
Diouf went on to say that his team is made up of 26 players who are strong and ready to play the World Cup with the zeal it deserves.
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