Senegal saves African blushes
Print Edition
By starting its World Cup with a win, Senegal also saved Africa from embarrassment at the tournament.
The continent was facing the prospect of a worst-ever World Cup start before Senegal beat Poland on Tuesday. The 2-1 victory was the first and only African win in the first round of matches, after Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia all lost their opening games. A few hours after Senegal鈥檚 win, Egypt then also lost its second match, 1-3 against Russia.
As in 2002, when Senegal beat then-defending champion France in its opening match, it now hopes to build on the momentum. But coach Aliou Cisse said beating the Poles didn鈥檛 have the same history-making feel of the 1-0 victory in 2002 over the French, Senegal鈥檚 former colonial masters. From there, in what was its first and until now only World Cup, Senegal went on a run to the quarterfinals. 鈥淚t is not the same thing, not the same flavor,鈥 Cisse said. 鈥淓veryone knows the history of France and of Senegal. France was the colonizing power of Senegal. We were the immigrant sons of that France.鈥
Not since 1974 鈥 when Zaire, its only representative, lost all three of its matches, conceded 14 goals and scored none 鈥 had Africa been without at least a win or a draw in the first matches. Since the World Cup expanded to a 32-team format in 1998, the worst opening round for African teams was in 2006, when Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Angola all lost their first matches and Tunisia drew 2-2 with Saudi Arabia.
Compounding the worries for African supporters is that, aside from Senegal, the continent鈥檚 five teams largely aren鈥檛 scoring. Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria didn鈥檛 get off the mark in losing their opening matches to Uruguay, Iran and Croatia, respectively. Tunisia鈥檚 goal in its 1-2 loss to England came from a penalty. Mohamed Salah, Egypt鈥檚 star, also scored from the spot on his return on Tuesday to the team following his left-shoulder injury in the UEFA Champions League final in May.
The only African to score from open play so far in Russia is Mbaye Niang, who pounced on an appallingly judged and executed Polish back pass to net Senegal鈥檚 second goal at Moscow鈥檚 Spartak Stadium. The other two goals in the match were both scored by Poles. Defender Thiago Cionek deflected a shot off his right calf past his own goalkeeper, an own goal that gave Senegal the lead. Grzegorz Krychowiak headed in Poland鈥檚 late consolation goal.
Although contesting only its second World Cup, Senegal could end up carrying the hopes of all Africa if the continent鈥檚 other teams don鈥檛 quickly pick themselves up. Morocco faces a tough task against Portugal and Spain in Group B. Nigeria has to play Argentina and resilient Iceland in Group D. Tunisia has the more manageable Panama but a tough match against Belgium in Group G. Egypt鈥檚 second-match loss to Russia severely compromised its chances of getting out of Group A.
Senegal鈥檚 next opponents in Group H are Japan and Colombia.
鈥淲e know Africa supports us. If we can make all the other African nations proud, that is twice as glorious,鈥 Niang said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thinking of our journey, trying to write our own story but if we can inspire others, that鈥檚 a greater honor for us.鈥
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