FT World Cup 2018: Senegal's Tournament in Review

The best African team of the Tournament denied a knockout spot due to the controversial tiebreaker

Here at FirstTouch, we predicted Senegal would have a good tournament. As reported by Dennis Takaendesa, Aliou Cisse's men were well coached and well prepared to make a statement at the World Cup 2018 similar to the Senegalese team from 2002, but they just fell short of their knockout round goal. They did, however, play a brave and tactically effective brand of football that can and should be a blueprint for their fellow African representatives at future tournaments.

Senegal vs Poland [June 19]

FirstTouch was in Russia to cover this game live from Moscow. Spartak Stadium provided the arena for the Senegalese team to seize their first chance to make an impression on the World Cup 2018 tournament, and they did not disappoint. Cisse organized his team in a 4-4-2 formation to effectively punish a sluggish Polish side that was all too tentative in possession. Sadio Mane provided a consistent attacking spark for his side and his powerful run into the Polish half helped set up the chance for Idrissa Gueye to shot and score from an admittedly fortunate deflection. Senegal had created their own luck, however, and was rewarded towards the end of a good first half. The game shifted in the second half with Poland chasing the match and Senegal sitting slightly deeper to defend and then counterattack. In games so tightly contested, opportunities to score are at a premium and Niang took advantage of a poor back pass from Poland's Krychowiak to score the second goal of the match. Krychowiak, however, was able to make amends for his mistake, although it proved too little too late when he scored a well-directed header from a Polish set piece towards the end of the match. Senegal was able to see out the rest of the match and effectively limit the impact of one of the world's top strikers in Robert Lewandowski. This first victory represented an important and symbolic result similar to the 1-0 victory against France that Cisse led his Senegalese side to achieve, but also represented the first victory for an African nation at the World Cup. 

Senegal vs Japan [June 24]

With an all-important three points from the first game, Senegal just needed a result in their second match against Japan to stay in contention for a knockout round spot in Group H. However, the same level of organization and focus in important moments would be required to achieve success against a Japanese side that also won three points from their first game. Sadio Mane helped Senegal have a strong start with an 11th-minute goal, but that early goal was canceled out in the 35th minute by a Japanese goal from Inui. In a first half littered with chances for both sides, 1-1 was a scoreline that betrayed the amount of attacking football that was on display. Inui proved a constant threat for Senegal throughout the game and especially in the second half. However, Senegal was able to retake the lead with a second goal from Wague. The lead did not last long enough because a crucial moment in the game did not produce enough focus from Senegal's goalkeeper, and N'Diaye did not properly deal with a cross that Keisuke Honda was able to capitalize on and bring Japan level. Although one point was a result that kept Senegal's knockout chances very much alive, it was in hindsight an opportunity missed getting all three points. 

Senegal vs Colombia [June 28]

With four points heading into their final Group H matchup against Colombia, Senegal's destiny was not completely in their own hands and the points dropped against Japan came back to haunt them. This last match pitted Mane's men against a Colombia side attempting to create their own path into the knockout rounds and that had just comprehensively beaten Poland 3-0. Senegal started strong again, creating a number of chances that they should have capitalized on, and VAR was used to overturn a penalty awarded to Sadio Mane after a last-ditch tackle from Davidson Sanchez. The game grew tenser as it progressed with fewer chances being created. Poland assuming a 1-0 lead against Japan meant that both Senegal and Colombia would have gone through with a tie, however, Yerry Mina's header from a 74th-minute corner kick meant that Senegal had to chase the game. Their efforts bore nothing by the end of the game and this represented Senegal's first loss in a group stage game of the World Cup. This loss also meant that a tiebreaker was needed to separate Senegal and Japan. FIFA's new tiebreaker is based upon a 'fair play' ranking that keeps track of a teams' yellow and red cards. Such a tiebreaker has been deemed by many experts and fans as wildly inefficient, especially when watching the end of both games. Japan was more than happy to keep possession between their defenders and Poland, with nothing left to play for, saw little need in pressing them to retrieve the ball and score the second goal. Senegal, unfortunately, were made to chase the game due to another lapse in focus during a set piece. Yellow and red cards are not a measure of a team's success nor should be a deciding factor in a tournament with such differing standards in referee judgments. Senegal should feel hard done by such a tiebreaker, but ultimately, it was two decisive moments where a lapse in focus in each moment cost them a spot in the knockout stages. With that 1-0 loss to Colombia, it meant that for the first time in 36 years there would be zero African nations in the Round of 16 at a World Cup. 

Lessons Learned

1. An organized game plan and tactical flexibility is great until it is all undone by lapses in focus

2. Senegal must continue to improve, but already have a solid group of talented players led by Sadio Mane and coach, Aliou Cisse

3. Can Senegal play this well at AFCON 2019 next summer? They must certainly improve their goal-scoring ability to do so. 

Evaluation

Senegal was the best African team at the World Cup 2018 but still came up short due to lapses in focus during crucial moments. In a Group H that was there for the taking, Senegal should not have allowed themselves to be eliminated by a senseless tiebreaker. However, Aliou Cisse did provide a blueprint for the other African nations looking to perform in future World Cup tournaments. Tactical flexibility coupled with an organized team structure can help all African teams close the gap on the rest of the world. Perhaps, the fact that Cisse was a former player and was able to inspire and demand the respect of his team since he had led Senegal to the Round of 16 as a player also played a part in the overall team cohesiveness that was certainly missing from some of the other African nations. 

Critical Issue

Unfortunately, this seems to be a consistent issue with not just African teams, but all teams throughout the world and that is solid goalkeeper play. A better goalkeeper would have certainly meant a different fate for Senegal, but also a sharper focus during set-pieces and other critical moments during the match. 

FT World Cup 2018: Senegal were so close but yet so far

Africa are out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament. Shocking right? Many experts and coaches from all over the world predicted that African teams would do better in the competition this time around, but they were left disappointed. Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho are just two of the many experts that shared in this pre-tournament belief. But how exactly did Senegal let the chance slip through their fingers in the final match? Here’s how.

In the first two matches, we did not see the captain of the team, Cheikhou Kouyate in the starting XI as well as the boy wonder, Keita Balde Diao on one of the flanks. Coach Aliou Cisse decided to change things up and accommodate the two players in a compact 4-4-2 formation against Colombia on June 28. Mane, who was playing up front with Niang, got an opportunity to score but lost the ball in the penalty box to Yerry Mina. VAR was used, and it adjudged that Mina committed a legal tackle. The Senegalese team were dangerous on the break but failed to score. A second-best Colombia team was unfortunate to lose James Rodriguez to injury, and they replaced him with an attacker, Muriel. Yerry MIna later proved again decisive as he stunned Senegal when he rose above the defenders to head in the game-winning goal on the 74th minute. Senegal now needed a goal to secure their place in the Round of 16 with Japan losing 1-0 to Poland. They fought, but could not score past Ospina. The match ended 1-0 and Senegal were level on points with Japan. They scored the same number of goals and conceded the same in the group stage. The two teams could not be separated by the head-to-head fixture either as it ended in a draw. For the first time in the tournament, a team was eliminated based on the number of yellow cards they picked up in the tournament. Senegal finished 3rd in the group, and it must be heartbreaking to bow out like that.

This means that the journey for the 5 African teams has ended in the group stage. Better luck next time, Africa.

FT World Cup 2018: Senegal held to a 2-2 draw by Japan

Three African teams have already been knocked out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia namely; Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt. Senegal was the first team from the continent to pick up three points in the tournament so far before Nigeria learned from their mistakes and got back in the conversation as they beat Iceland.

On Sunday, 24th of June, Senegal were looking to repeating this feat as they matched up with fellow Group H member Japan. Les Lions de la Téranga coach, Aliou Cisse played around with his starting XI by switching the formation from 4-4-2 in the previous match to a 4-3-3 and accommodated Ndiaye in midfield. They started off well. It was in the 11th minute that Sadio Mane was accredited for scoring a goal for Senegal after Kawashima parried Youssouf Sabaly's shot into the feet of the Liverpool forward before the ball bounced off his shin and rolled into the net. Senegal continued to dominate in a first half that was typified by long balls and physical battles in the middle of the park. Japan came back into the match on the 34th minute through Inui’s curler that beat Khadim Ndiaye to level the matters.

Moussa Wague gave Senegal the lead for the second time in the match as he turned in Sabaly’s cross from a tight angle on the 71st minute. The Japanese coach made a bold decision of removing Shinji Kagawa and replaced him with Keisuke Honda before also throwing Shinji Okazaki into the match to rescue a point. The pair caused havoc in the opposition box, and it was written in the stars that they would leave a mark on the match. The Senegalese goalkeeper miscalculated a Japanese cross into the box and completely missed it which gifted Honda the opportunity to slot home just 7 minutes after Wague’s goal. The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

In all fairness, both teams created opportunities to score and showed the desire to stay in the competition, desire that has been lacking in the other African teams that have already been eliminated at this stage. The only question remaining is the omission of a young player on the rise. Up until now, we have not seen Keita Balde in this tournament. The young winger is highly rated and widely regarded to be the next big thing but is still yet to kick a ball in this tournament. Could it be that they have been reserving for the most challenging match (against Colombia) which will be the decider?

FT World Cup 2018: Africa Has Arrived - Senegal

In the history of the FIFA World Cup, no African team has ever reached the semi-finals. Ghana was agonizingly close in South Africa 2010 but crashed out after Luis Suarez’s heroics in goal, in place for a goalkeeper who was still in the game. Senegal’s Lions of Teranga had a great run in the 2002 finals before losing to Turkey, 1-0 after extra time. Can this year be a historical one for Africa?

What about the Senegalese in Group H? Will they repeat the heroics of 2002 under the mentorship of Aliou Cisse who was actually part of the South Korea and Japan 2002 squad or maybe even go further? My answer is yes, a very big YES! The Lions of Teranga do not play the most fluid of football but can be a neatly organized defensive unit comprising of the English Premier League’s second-best tackler, Idrissa Gueye and the mountain man, Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly leading the defense. They are also blessed with clinical attackers in the form of Diafra Sakho, Monaco’s Keita Balde and the X-factor, Sadio Mane. Most soccer fans witnessed what he did in the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid. The Liverpool forward took the game in his hands after Mohamed Salah was forced out with an unfortunate early injury, and he scored a beautiful goal that gave the Reds some short-lived hope of lifting the trophy and consistently caused Sergio Ramos and his defense all sorts of problems until the 90th minute.

I am confident that Sadio Mane will step up as he always does and inspire Senegal to a win over lowly ranked Japan, an inexperienced Poland and maybe just fall short to unpredictable Colombia. It may be a bit of a gamble to endorse Senegal's chances so strongly, but i have a feeling that they will be a strong representative for the African continent. Sadio Mane is perhaps enough of an inspiring player that has provided the quality and lends evidence to consider Senegal doing the unexpected. It is a group centered around three star players in particular; Liverpool’s Sadio Mane vs Bayern Munich’s James Rodriguez vs Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski.. No offense to Japan.

Here are my predictions for Group H final standings:

Senegal (1st); Colombia (2nd); Poland (3rd); Japan (4th)

What are your predictions? Let us know in the comment box below.

Colombia: Footballs are worth more than rifles; a case of the reintegration of ex-rebels.

After over 50 years of civil conflict between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC in Spanish) and the Colombian government, a peace agreement was signed in November 2016. Wounds inflicted over decades, marked by bloody massacres, kidnappings, extortions and intense fighting are now being slowly healed by the power of sport through football. A lot of young people recruited into the FARC at ages of 17-20 who had their dreams of playing professional football dashed at the time are believing again. In fact, even during the period of the huge turmoil, they would still sacrifice to play football.

““We would carry 70 kilos [154 pounds] on our backs and walk up to 30 km [19 miles] a day upon the mountains. The first thing we would do before camping would be to clear a field with our machetes so we could play soccer. Sports have always been part of our guerrilla way of life.””

— An interviewee who has always been a soccer aspirant

After the peace agreement, close to 7, 000 former rebels are now organized into 26 transitional settlements who are run by the former commanders. Both men and women’s football teams have been neatly set up. From time to time, they play friendly matches with other villages, both civilian and other former rebels’ villages. As the ex-rebels await approval from Dimayor (Colombia's professional soccer authority) to include two B division teams, one for men and the other for women to make their footballing dreams a reality; they remain self-sustained.

The former rebels sell rifles to cover tournament travel costs and buy soccer equipment. At times they still travel for kilometers in metal boats for matches in distant villages, players, and supporters alike. The feared former FARC commander sees sports as well to reintegrate into civilian life and win hearts again as talks of forming a democratic political party continue.

““We’ve started to see an increase in local communities participating in sports events. Soccer is a way for us to win hearts and minds. For example, women’s soccer teams’ participation has increased. The fact they see our [FARC] women play has empowered women in these remote communities to organize and play.” ”

— The Former FARC Commander

The transitional residences are a hive of activity ranging from late night briefings on the peace process, internal issues, world global news; tutoring and jobs to maintain the living conditions. The close to 7, 000 demobilized rebels receive monthly food rations and 700, 000 Colombian pesos(around USD $250) payment each, from the government to purchase essentials.

During the time of the visit by ESPN journalists, one ex-rebels team were in an ecstatic mood after beating 94th Infantry Battalion of the Colombian Armed Forces, 11 - 5. They once met on the battlefield but now go toe to toe on the soccer pitch. The former rebels continue to wait for more support from the government and integration into civilian life is not slowing down for the beloved sons and daughters of Colombia.

International Friendlies Round-Up: Ronaldo, Coutinho and Lingard amongst the goals

World Cup hosts Russia succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to a Neymar-less Brazil. Barcelona players Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho stepped up in the absence of their main man and scored one each. Miranda scored the other in the thrilling match which is a test for the teams that want to challenge in FIFA’s biggest tournament in less than 2 months.

In other news, France lost 2-3 to Colombia on the same night. The result is quite surprising considering the fact that France had an early 2 goal advantage as Giroud and Lemar both scored a goal each. Muriel scored for Colombia to make it 2-1 before the break. Falcao and Quintero’s penalty completed the comeback and downed Deschamps’ side.

Germany and Spain’s clash ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw. Rodrigo scored at the 6th minute for Spain before Muller leveled the matters on the 9th minute.

England won 1-0 against the Netherlands thanks to a Jesse Lingard goal in the 59th minute.