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Senegal’s who is who in the Kenya featuring group

22/05/2019
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Senegal who is 2002 runner up of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will hope to replicate their form in this year’s AFCON to match that of 2002 as well as the one they showed during the world cup to try reaching the finals of a trophy they have never won.

The Western Africa’s country best performance in the matches was recorded back in early 2000 when they hosted the competition which led them to finish second after entering the finals against Cameroon who won on post-match penalties.

Later that year, Senegal made their first-ever world championship appearance at the World Cup. They eventually reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, one of only three African teams to do so after Cameroon in 1990 and Ghana in 2010.

In the meanwhile, the Senegalese team is one that is rich in players who are playing in the International scene and as such is expected to be one of the best teams ahead of the showdown in Egypt that begins in June 21st until 19th July when the finals will be held.

Senegal who are pooled against Kenya, Algeria and Tanzania are by the look of things the best in the group followed by Algeria who is led by Manchester City winger Mahrez who joined the side from 2015-2016 English Premier League title winners Leicester.

Their first match of the clash will be against one of the three East Africa teams that qualified for the clashes, Tanzania. Some of the big names to watch in the Senegalese squad is the 2018-2019 golden boot winner who doubles as the Senegal Captain Sadio Mane.

The Liverpool talisman scored twenty-two goals in the Premier league sharing the spoils with fellow Liverpool and Egypt hitman, Mohamed Salah and Gabon and Arenal attacker Aubemeyang, he also has other four goals in his name in the UEFA Champions League awaiting the finals against Tottenham on 1st June.

Although he has been blamed for his sluggish play for his country Mane is expected to rise up to the occasion this time round after a stellar performance at Liverpool and take his country to the finals but he is not alone, the Senegalese team is well endowed with quality players.

Other names to be seen in the AFCON squad are Napoli’s Center back Kalidou Koulibaly who has been in the recent past a darling of struggling Manchester United but are yet to get his signature.

The defender has been touted as one of the best in Europe in the class of Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk and former United player Rio Ferdinand.

There is also, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, a midfielder who two goals in his name in the just ended season and have had links to a move to France as well as Cheikhou Kouyaté who plays for Crystal Palace and has two goals as well and is a well-defined midfielder.

A part of Mane at the front, he will be helped by 26-years old Amiens striker Moussa Konate, Rennes’ M’Baye Niang as well asIntermilan’s Keita Balde.

The West African nation narrowly missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup after losing in a round-robin match against Ivory Coast in the final qualification round.

Senegal qualified for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments since, being eliminated in the group stage in 2015 and reaching the quarterfinals in 2017.

On 10 November 2017, after defeating South Africa 2-0, Senegal qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the second in its history after the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Senegal defeated Poland 2-1 in their opening group match.

The first goal was an own goal by Thiago Cionek, and the second one was scored by M’Baye Niang. In the next group stage match, Senegal drew 2-2 against Japan with one goal by Sadio Mané and the other by Moussa Wagué.

However, despite having a great advantage, they missed the opportunity by losing 0-1 to Colombia, and due to poor fair play point comparing to Japan, who also lost 0-1 to Poland, Senegal was eliminated in the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history

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