Qatar 2022: Koulibaly Leads MANE-LESS Senegal To R16

Out injured a week prior to the tournament, Sadio Mane’s Senegalese teammates have sailed through to the round of 16 of the global football show-piece without their mega star.

It took a 42nd minute penalty from Hornets man Ismaila Sarr and a goal from skipper Koulibaly to beat Ecuador 2-1.

Senegal qualified to the round of 16 after they incredibly came back from a defeat on the first day against the Netherlands to line up two crucial victories against hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

Senegal started like a house on fire and it was imminent they didn’t come to play around when Sarr placed the ball for Gana Gueye who took the extra touch but then fired wide at the 2nd minute past goalkeeper Galindez.

Chances came in quick succession for Senegal. Next up was down the right side when Sabaly slotted in for Boulaye Dia at the 7th minute but the Villarreal man on loan to Salernitana scuffed his shot as it went off target.

The African champions didn’t relent and Ismail Sarr was particularly up for it. At the 23rd minute, Sarr won his battle against Ángelo Preciado
down the right as he advanced and took a shot that got nicked off a yellow shirt for a corner.

Sarr was quick and got first to a ball he slightly controlled heavily at the 42nd minute. The winger was bombed into by Hincapie and referee Clement Turpin adjudged to be a penalty.

Sarrr took the resulting spot kick and rooted Galindez to the spot as he went for the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

Ecuador went to the break 1-0 down and they needed to tweak something tactically as Senegal overtly dominated. Upon resumption of the second half, coach Gustavo Alfaro made two changes in a bid to change the complexion of the game.

Franco made way for Sarmiento, and and Gruezo was taken off for Cifuentes.

The changes paid off seven minutes after the hour mark. From a nicely converted corner kick, Brighton and Hove Albion midfeilder Moises Caicedo appeared from the back post to tap-in after an initial flick from Felix Torres.

150 seconds separated Caicedo and Koulibaly’s strike to gift Senegal the lead for a second timr. The big central defender side footed Senegal back on top from a set play orchestrated by Gana Gueye. It nicked off Estupinan and fell kindly for Koulibaly who finished with aplomb.

Le Tri had to open up and find another way to draw the equaliser and they nearly got it when Preciado found Plata who eluded all the Senegalese defenders before firing straight at Mendy at the 76th minute.

From there on, Boulaye Dia and Pappe Cisse had chances to kill the game for Senegal at the latter stages but they could be forgiven as Aliou Cisse and his men clinged on for the win.

Senegal go through as runners-up to Netherlands in group A. The Netherlands topped the group with 7 points after a 2-0 win against Qatar.