SENEGALESE LIONS THRASH HOSTS QATAR 3-1 IN GROUP A GAME TO KEEP HOPE ALIVE FOR AFRICA

By Eniola Olatunji

Wounded Teranga Lions of Senegal on Friday came from psychological injury to bite hard hosts Qatar with a 3-1 victory that restored hope of going into the knockout stages.

Qatar and Senegal are meeting for the first time in any competition making it difficult to plot an effective strategy and then a devastating defensive error gave the Lions their first Qatar world cup goal as Boulaye Dia punished the Qataris for their pediatric error in 41st minute.

On resumption of the second half Famara Diedhiou collected an assist from Ismail Jakobs via a lob into the six yard box from the right flank to volley in Senegal’s second goal at the 48th minute.

Qatar did not give up as they fought hard an effort that gave them their first world cup goal through Mohammed Muntari from a Ismael Mohammed assist in78th minute.

Never satisfied Coach Aliou Cisse conducting his team like Moses at the brink of the Red Sea with his rod gave signs which substitute Bamba Dieng decoded to score Senegal’s 3rd goal in the 84th minute.

The Qatari boys did not relent looking for any how to get a draw especially via penalty kicks but Ref Antonio Mateu Lahoz of Spain would not give cheap penalty awards.

Kudos to Chelsea goalkeeper, Edoward Mendy, who thwarted many efforts of the forays from the Qataris. Senegal was grappling with the miss of Cheithou Kouyale suffering from ankle injury; Fode Toure who got a knock in training and Sadio Mane who was injured at his club before the world cup and all the players were Senegal’s first choice players.

So we wait for the Ecuador versus Netherlands star match. Netherlands had beaten Senegal 2-0 and Ecuador also beat Qatar 2-0 in the first round.

On Tuesday November 29 Ecuador will play Senegal and Netherlands will meet Qatar all in the last group match in a simultaneous game at 1600 hours.