Izuchukwu OkosiWith barely a week to the big kick off of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Prime Business Africa presents profiles of the teams heading to the 32nd edition of the tournament.
Senegal are one of the teams in Group A and based on form, player qualities and World Cup pedigree, the African champions are poised to make it out of this group.
These teams profiles were vastly sourced from FIFA’s official website
SENEGAL
The reigning African champions, Senegal have what it takes to impress in Group A of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Knocked out in the first round at Russia 2018, the Lions of Teranga have one ambition: to outdo the legendary side that reached the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002.
Twenty years on from that heady achievement, the FIFA World Cup™ is back on Asian soil, which may well be a positive sign for superstitious Senegal fans who believe the current crop is the best they have had.
At least one Senegalese player has been involved in a UEFA Champions League final squad every year since 2018: Sadio Mane four years ago and again in 2019 and 2022 with Liverpool, the Paris Saint-Germain pair of Idrissa Gana Gueye and Abdou Diallo in 2020 and Edouard Mendy in 2021 for Chelsea.
Another reason for optimism around Senegal is the stability of the team’s coaching set-up. In charge since 2015, coach Aliou Cisse is hoping to oversee another glorious chapter in the history of his country’s football.
The coach’s approach and tactics
Nicknamed El Tactico by Senegal President Macky Sall, Cisse has been involved in every one of Senegal’s major achievements in the international arena.
He captained the Lions of Teranga at Korea/Japan 2002, coached the team at Russia 2018, and led them to their first continental title at the 2021 CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). It comes as no surprise, then, that Cisse will be leading his national team on their Qatari adventure.
Cisse likes his side to play a pragmatic game and believes a solid defence is the key to success. Even when his side is on top, he is wary of them being exposed.
READ ALSO: 2022 FIFA World Cup Team Profiles: Ecuador, Surprise Team That May Shock Critics
Over the years he has moved towards a 4-3-3 system that can be tweaked to a 4-2-3-1 if necessary, with speedy operators on the flanks and a well-drilled midfield unit standing firm in the centre to prevent the team from being split in two. Crucial to maintaining that unity is the holding midfielder stationed just in front of the defence.
“The coach is a real leader of men. We are his troops,” said Senegal defender Abdou Diallo, heaping praise on Cisse, who calls his players his “boys”. As Diallo went on to explain, that proximity is the bedrock of Aliou’s philosophy. “The fact that he was an international and the captain as well gives him credibility,” said Diallo. “We drink in every word he has to say.”
Key Player: Sadio Mane
The Bayern Munich star has been named in the 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar despite the injury fears after he copped a knee problem against Wolfsburg in a 6-1 hammering of the latter.
The Senegalese are most people’s favorites as the African team to go farthest at the World Cup and Sadio Mane will be important to that coming to fruition.
That explained the desperation of the Senegalese Football Federation to settle for the services of witchdoctors to hasten the healing process.
Senegal’s Group A fixtures
21 November
Senegal-Netherlands (19:00 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)
25 November
Qatar-Senegal (16:00 local time, Al Thumama Stadium)
29 November
Ecuador-Senegal (18:00 local time, Khalifa International Stadium)
Prime Business Africa’s Prediction: Senegal have the capability to finish top of this group and all will depend on the discipline of the defence against the attacks of the opposition especially the Dutch.
Should the likes of Mane and Ismaila Sarr get on their scoring boots on, the defence Wil have their work cut out.
Senegal and indeed other African countries will also hope for good officiating at the World Cup.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
![UNN Mass Comm Int'l Conference: Dept Staff, Alumni Pay Courtesy Visit To Vice Chancellor [PHOTOS]](https://i0.wp.com/www.primebusiness.africa/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG-20240418-WA0021.jpg?resize=720%2C480&ssl=1)
Follow Us