Senegal lift African spirits with first victory at Russia 2018 World Cup

By Daily Sports on June 19, 2018

Moscow, June 19, 2018 (NAN) Senegal’s Teranga Lions made Africans here in Moscow proud on Tuesday evening with a 2-1 defeat of Poland at the Spartak Stadium in their opening Group H match.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Africans at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia have been wearing forlorn faces after four of their five teams lost.

But Senegal gave signs of making the difference by holding their own before the 44,190 crowd who were witnessing a match fought from end to end in the opening minutes.

The Poles did hold the advantage in possession though, but after a neat move in the 37th minute, Senegal opened scoring.

Idrissa Gueye’s shot was deflected in by Thiago Cionek to give the Lions a deserved lead.

Senegal knew what they needed to do thereafter, holding off Poland to take their advantage into the second half, when they tightened the back and still surged forward on the break.

Midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak was soon to make a costly error, playing a high, aimless back pass.

Striker M’Baye Niang controlled the ball ahead of an advancing goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before tapping into an empty net.

Krychowiak however pulled a goal back in the 86th minute with a header from Kamil Grosicki’s free-kick but Senegal held on.

Poland are the group’s highest-ranked side at number eight, but they struggled to create further chances with a free-kick from captain Robert Lewandowski one of just four shots on target.

Senegal who are making only their second World Cup appearance now lead the group ahead of Japan, who beat Colombia 1-0 earlier on Tuesday.

NAN reports that Senegal’s victory has now become a breath of fresh air for Africa since Friday when Egypt lost their opening Group A match to Uruguay at Ekaterinburg.

The Egyptians had lost to a Jose Gimenez 89th minute goal, and since then three other African teams have lost their opening group games.

Hours after Egypt’s loss, Morocco lost 0-1 to Iran at Saint Petersburg in a Group B match, through Aziz Bouhaddouz’s own goal in the fifth minute of added time.

Nigeria worsened the situation by losing 0-2 to Croatia at Kaliningrad on Saturday in Group D, through an Oghenekaro Etebo own goal and a Luka Modric penalty kick.

Tunisia went on to add to Africans’ misery on Monday by losing 1-2 to England in Group G at Volgograd.

They gave the game away in the first minute of added time when Harry Kane completed his brace with the winning goal.

The day, however, ended on a sad note for the continent as Egypt virtually crashed out of the competition after losing 3-1 to hosts Russia in their second Group A game, with recovering Mohammed Salah netting the consolatory goal from the spot in the second half.

On Wednesday, Morocco too will be facing Portugal in a Group B match at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow needing a win to stay on.

Nigeria are playing on Friday at Volgograd, also needing to win to stay on from Group D.  

•Adapted from a NAN report. 

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 19, 2018


 

You may also like...
Hamilton says 'Paradise Papers' will not distract him...

Premier League Clubs Report Revenue Drop

Osimhen open to Saudi move – Report

Ahmed Musa calls Caf out over cancelled goal...

NANPF tasks debtor clubs to pay up •Says...

Klopp Warns Newcastle That Money Doesn’t Buy Success...

 

Latest News CAF Award: Hedriel congratulates Lookman, says his award will inspire him to work harder Managers deserve 'more respect' - Postecoglou Man City's Dias ruled out for 'three or four weeks' I put him in retirement, Dubois mocks Joshua EPL: Man Utd’s Mount out for weeks as injury struggles persist Fury, Usyk talk tough ahead rematch Carragher urges Rashford to move on from Man United Fury and Usyk in astonishing 11-minute face-off Liverpool draw Tottenham in EFL Cup semi-finals LeBron James sets new NBA record in Lakers win Lookman’s market value hits €55m FIFA rankings: Eagles end 2024 in 44th place

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,207 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,351 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,408 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,051 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,988 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,952 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,787 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,355 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,426 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,094 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,542 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,974 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media