AFRICA HAVE their first win of the Qatar World Cup after Senegal beat the hosts 3-1, reports Ben Scammell.
The Africans came into the game knowing that they would have to beat Qatar to stand a chance of qualifying for the knockout rounds.
Alliou Cisse’s men were looking to put opening defeat against the Netherlands behind them and started brightly.
Ismaila Sarr’s ball across the box found Famara Diedhiou who took a controlled touch but opted to lay off to Nampalys Mendy whose effort was dragged wide.
Idrissa Gueye played a nice one two with Boulaye Dia which opened up space for Gueye who hit a low driven shot from 20 yards was inches away from nestling into the bottom corner.
Senegal were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Akram Afif had broken through into the box in the 33rd min before being clumsily taken down by Sarr, there were huge penalty appeals but to no avail.
Seven minutes later, a cross from Krepin Diatta should have been delt with by Boualem Khouki yet he made a meal out of it allowing Dia to latch onto the ball it and dispatch it into the bottom left corner.
The Lions of Teranga were roaring.
The momentum for Senegal continued as three minutes after the restart Ismail Jakobs’ inswinging corner met the head of Diedhiou at the near post to put the Africans two goals to the good.
Qatar would not go down quietly though. In the 66th minute the hosts thought they had their first goal at the World Cup when Ismael Mohammed had his effort from point blank range saved by Edouard Mendy.
The wait for their first goal continued ended 12 minutes later as Mohammed’s cross from the by-line was met by the head of substitute Mohammed Muntari who got in between Kalidou Koulibaly and Pathe Cisse to see the net bulge. A historic moment for the host nation.
Hopes of a Qatar resurgence was diminished six minutes later when Sheffield United’s Iliman Ndiaye kept the ball through nimble footwork before cutting the ball back to Bamba Dieng who calmy finished to secure the win.
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