Drawn in Group A alongside host nation Qatar, Ecuador and the Netherlands, Senegal will be the first African nation to feature at the ongoing World Cup when the go head to head with a star-studded Netherlands side on Monday, 21 November at the Al-Thumama stadium in Doha, Qatar.

The reigning African Champion who clinched their first-ever continental silverware earlier this year, and subsequently rode their luck to a crucial World Cup qualification, much thanks to the integral impact of the country’s talisman, Sadio Mane en route to the twain achievements will be facing a Netherlands team widely regarding as the biggest footballing nation never to win the World Cup owing their remarkable chronicle of the World Cup losing three finals in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

Senegal have suffered an early blow losing their best player for the entirety of the tournament, Sadio Mane, to a fibula injury sustained while on duty for his club side Bayern Munich and the Lions of Teranga will now have to implement a tactical switch as the onus of leading their attack rest on the shoulders of the likes of Ismaila Sarr, Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou and others.

The Aliou Cisse-managed side are on an impressive run of form coming into this competition with six victories in their last eight competitive outings and will be looking to build on such a high-spirited momentum as they eye victory against the Netherlands.

Watch out for the next post for part 2