How will Senegal fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at the Lions of Teranga in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
Senegal History at the World Cup
Gaining independence from France in 1960, Senegal steadily evolved as a footballing entity, regularly participating in the African Cup of Nations where initially they held their own, then later excelled, often reaching the latter rounds.
In 2002, for the first time, they qualified for the World Cup, becoming only the second African country to do so, and pitted in a tough group featuring France, Uruguay and Denmark few gave them a realistic chance of progressing to the knock-outs.
In the event, they surprised one and all, eventually exiting in the quarter finals. In hindsight, it is clear that so much of that surprise was born out of ignorance, because the players who shocked France in the opening game of the tournament, before navigating a path to the last eight, made up a very good team.
Ghana 🇬🇭 go into this year’s World Cup as the lowest ranked team as per the latest FIFA rankings released today.
— Usher Komugisha (@UsherKomugisha) October 6, 2022
The Black Stars sit in 61st position. Brazil 🇧🇷 maintain first place in the world while Senegal 🇸🇳 are Africa’s highest placed team in 18th. pic.twitter.com/Ud2r19bG24
Up front was El Hadji Diouf who soon after joined Liverpool. Bolstering the midfield was Papa Bouba Diop, later of Fulham fame. Among their number were Ligue 1 winners with Monaco.
People knew of their abilities later, of course, and in that sense, to lean on a cliché, this was the tournament that put Senegal on the footballing map.
In 2018, the team that is currently ranked 18th in the world again qualified for the biggest stage of them all. Sadly, on this occasion there was to be no upsetting of the football betting odds, as Senegal narrowly went out at the group stage.
Senegal Nickname
Senegal are in possession of one of the coolest nicknames in international football, dubbed the ‘Lions of Teranga’.
The first part is self-evident, lions being native to the country though, regrettably in recent years their numbers have seriously dwindled.
Teranga meanwhile may sound like a place but is actually a word that loosely translates as a ‘way of life’.
World Cup 2022 Group
Paired with the tournament hosts, Senegal were extremely fortunate to avoid any of the top seeds from Pot 1 when the draw was made back in April. The Lions of Teranga have the beating of rank-outsiders Qatar.
Less straightforward will be the Netherlands, sprinkled as they are with superstars while Ecuador are capable but unpredictable. In all likelihood, Senegal’s meeting with Ecuador in the final game will decide who escapes Group A, along with Holland.
Senegal Fixtures:
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Senegal vs Netherlands - 21st November 2022
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Senegal vs Qatar - 25th November 2022
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Senegal vs Ecuador - 29th November 2022
Senegal Kit World Cup 2022
There’s no getting away from it, the Senegalese home kit is gorgeous. A work of art no less.
Predominantly white, as a homage to their 2002 victory over France, a deep chevron of green, yellow and red houses a centralised star, badge, and Puma motif. The same three colours decorate the trim.
Their away shirt is less special, with Puma perplexingly having a front box number as a theme for their World Cup kits.
L’équipementier de l’équipe nationale du Sénégal de football | Home and away kit | #football #senegal #puma #dakar #Qatar2022 #worldvup #coupedumonde pic.twitter.com/qE88RZQATJ
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) August 30, 2022
Who is The Senegal Manager?
Across two decades, Aliou Cisse has led his country to historic achievements.
In 2002, the former PSG midfielder became the first Senegal captain to reach an AFCON final. Twenty years later at the 2022 African Cup of Nations, he coached them to an inaugural international success.
This winter, he will be the first person to both play for, and manage, Senegal at a World Cup finals having skippered them in Japan/Korea.
Best Senegal Player
We would've gone with Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane but he was recently ruled out of the tournament after picking up a late injury.
On the basis of picking another player Senegal can ill afford to lose however, that has to be their long-time leader, Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
The classy defensive unit, who for the Blues wears the number 26 shirt made famous by John Terry, is everything to his national side.
Win and clean sheet: nicely done 💪🏿 #CheWol 3-0 #PL 🔵 #KK #CFC pic.twitter.com/vbHmMaKVEZ
— Koulibaly Kalidou (@kkoulibaly26) October 8, 2022
Senegal Odds at World Cup 2022
Senegal’s World Cup odds may be a distant 90/1 to win the competition but for them progression from Group A is the priority.
Should they go on to match their 2002 counterparts and reach a quarter-final, they will each return to West Africa as heroes and kings.
Bet on Senegal at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!
