Senegal was in trouble at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday night despite controlling the game for the majority of the time. A sensational goal by Ecuador had just knotted the game, and Senegal would have been ousted from the World Cup with a draw.
Senegal did not fear, though, even without its great scorer Sadio Mané, who has been sidelined with an injury since before the 2022 World Cup. Senegal’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Ecuador in less than three minutes to give Senegal the lead. As the group’s runner-up, Senegal advanced to the knockout round.
Koulibaly, 31, called it “an amazing moment for me and the squad.”
No African country made it past the round of 16 of the 2018 competition. Senegal won the Africa Cup of Nations, becoming the first team from the continent to accomplish so in this competition. However, given that Ghana and Morocco are in solid positions going into their third games, Senegal may not be the last.
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In its third World Cup appearance, Senegal has now advanced twice to the knockout round. It will play England on Sunday, who topped Group B after defeating Wales 3-0 on Tuesday.
“Millions of Senegalese were watching us, and we gave it our all,” midfielder Pape Gueye said in French, adding that the victory was “historic.”
Idrissa Gana Gueye of Everton slashed the ball just wide of an open goal after only three minutes. Senegal manager Aliou Cisse had pledged before the game that his veteran team “would not overthink” the situation.
