Senegal became the first African side to record victory in the ongoing FIFA 2022 World Cup as they comfortably saw off hosts Qatar 3-1 in their second Group A match played on Friday afternoon at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.Having gone down to a late 0-2 defeat against Netherlands in their tournament opener, the Lions of Teranga bounced back in perfect style as they recorded the first victory that kept alive their hopes of progressing out of the group stage courtesy of goals from Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhou and Bamba Dieng as Mohammed Muntari grabbed the consolation goal for the hosts.3 🇸🇳 vs🇶🇦 1#Senegal #Qatar #FIFAWorldCup @FIFAWorldCup 🦁 pic.twitter.com/nT0GOlHKtv— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) November 25, 2022 It was a match that got off to a slow start as both sides showed little ambition in front of goal for the majority of the first half. In fact, it is only a big defensive mistake from Qatari defender Boualem Khoukhi that prevented the game from getting into the break with the deadlock intact.With four minutes left before the breather, the 32-year-old defender was made to pay for his fumbled clearance as an unmarked Dia found the bottom corner to give the African champions a narrow half-time lead.Senegal are the first African team to win at this World Cup 🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/Px8d4yvqik— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 25, 2022 In the second half, it is Senegal’s team talk that appeared to have had the maximum and immediate impact as they doubled their lead just three minutes after the resumption with Diedhou getting the perfect header from Ismail Jakob’s corner delivery after his run was not picked in the box by the Qatar defenders.Roared on by their home fans who wanted more, Qatar threw caution to the wind as they threw bodies forward in search of a first goal in the tournament in front of their fans.##NAJAVA_MECA_6843403##For a moment though, they thought the inspired form of shot-stopper Edouard Mendy will deny them as he pulled two world-class saves to maintain Senegal’s two-goal advantage but the Chelsea man was eventually beaten in the 78th minute by the towering Muntari who rose above Koulibaly to head in an inch-perfect delivery from Ismaeel Mohammad.While pushing for an equalizer, individual brilliance from Iliman Ndiaye helped the African champions seal the victory as he put the ball on a plate for Dieng with a cute cutback after taking almost three Qatar players in the goal’s build-up.Dieng stayed composed and plucked the ball into the back of the net for the momentous win for the Senegalese who will face Ecuador in their last group clash on Tuesday.
