Senegal produced their best performance at a World Cup yet 20 years ago. Now, the West African nation will go to Qatar 2022 looking to better their result in Japan and South Korea.
The Lions of Teranga have only taken to the global stage on two occasions previously. But they will go to the first Fifa tournament held in the Middle East as the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions. Senegal won their first AFCON title in February at the 16th attempt.
Senegal has often lived in the shadows of their West African rivals Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana. Yet Aliou Cisse now boasts a squad brimming with stars like Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly of Chelsea, Watford ace Ismaila Sarr and Idrissa Gueye of Everton.
In fact, Senegal earned a bye to the second round of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifying route for the 2022 Qatar World Cup as the top-ranked African nation. Fifa had the Lions of Teranga 20th globally with Nigeria 33rd, Ghana 50th and Ivory Coast 57th.
How many times has Senegal qualified for the Fifa World Cup?
Cisse’s squad showed why they were the top-ranked African nation in the second round of the CAF qualifying campaign. Senegal secured the top spot in Group H with five wins and a draw. Their unbeaten run then led to pipping Egypt on penalties for a place at Qatar 2022.
This year’s tournament will also mark the first time that Senegal has played at successive World Cups. The Lions of Teranga first appeared at a Fifa event in 2002 in Japan and South Korea. But they would not return to the global stage before the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Senegal has attempted to reach 13 editions of the Fifa tournament. They also initially entered the qualifying stages for the 1966 and 1990 editions, but the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) withdrew its entry for those years.
So, the 1970 World Cup in Mexico was the first tournament that Senegal committed to try and qualify for. But it took them another 32 years before reaching a finals of the Fifa event. They did not submit an entry at any stage for any edition played between 1930 and 1962.
What is Senegal’s best World Cup performance so far?
Senegal would register their best performance at a World Cup yet in their maiden outing in 2002. The Lions of Teranga took to the global stage in Japan and South Korea and reached the quarter-finals. But they could not repeat their successes next time out at Russia 2018.
Cisse’s squad exited the last World Cup after the group stage by virtue of fair play points. They and Japan had identical records of one win, one draw, one defeat, four goals scored and four goals conceded. But the Samurai Blue had received fewer cautions than Senegal.
Senegal were within a quarter of an hour of following Group H winners Colombia into the knockout stages in 2018. Jan Bednarek had Poland in front against Japan in their tie. But a late strike from Yerry Mina was enough for Los Cafeteros to beat the Lions of Teranga 1-0.
Now, Senegal will head to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup hoping to register their new best performance at a Fifa tournament. Cisse’s side will face the Netherlands on November 21, the host nation on November 25 and round off Group A against Ecuador on November 29.
How did Senegal reach the quarter-finals in Japan and South Korea?
Senegal finished as runners-up to Denmark in Group A at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. They started the competition by stunning the defending champions France at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Les Bleus also arrived in Asia as the No.1 ranked Fifa nation.
Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal in Seoul to kick off the 2002 edition. The fixture also served as the curtain raiser, with Fifa allocating the opening game to the defending World Cup holders from 1974 to 2002. The host nations have played in the first game since 2006.
Senegal would follow up beating France by claiming a 1-1 draw with Denmark at the Daegu World Cup Stadium. Salif Diao scored his side’s equaliser in the 52nd minute after Jon Dahl Tomasson hit a first-half penalty. But the midfielder would later earn a second yellow card.
It meant Diao missed Senegal’s final Group A tie against Uruguay at the Suwon World Cup Stadium. But fortunately for the midfielder, it took La Celeste until the 88th minute to pull level and could not find a winner after a first-half Khalilou Fadiga penalty and a Diop brace.
In reward for advancing to the knockout stages at their first World Cup, Senegal earned a Round of 16 trip to the Big Eye Stadium in Oita to face Sweden. Yet Henrik Larsson put any hopes of a quarter-final place at risk when the Blagult legend scored after only 11 minutes.
Henri Camara would come up with the goods to draw the Lions of Teranga level later on in the first-half. And it was the 99-cap striker, who had assisted twice in the 3-3 draw against Uruguay, who delivered 14 minutes into sudden death extra-time from Pape Thiaw’s pass.
Senegal would take their quarter-final against Turkey to sudden death extra-time, as well, after a goalless stalemate through 90 minutes. But Ilhan Mansiz found the breakthrough for the Crescent Stars just four minutes after the restart to end the Lions of Teranga’s run.
Cisse will, no doubt, hope he can follow in Bruno Metsu’s shoes and see Senegal register a new best performance at a World Cup when they arrive in Qatar for the 2022 tournament.
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