World Cup 2022: Why Senegal are ‘dangerous’ for England

Photo group for Senegal team before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Qatar and Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium on 25 November 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Ayman Aref/NurPhoto) (Photo by Ayman Aref / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

It is the World Cup quarter-final everyone is talking about. Yet, there are significant hurdles to overcome first.

Both sides may face lower-ranked opposition in their last-16 ties today but this is a World Cup that has thrown up shock results. France must first overcome Poland, while England face African champions, Senegal.

They may sit 13 places lower than England in the FIFA world rankings, but Senegal have a squad packed full of talent, even without injured superstar, Sadio Mane.

“We know we will be favourites in terms of rankings but Senegal will be a very dangerous side,” said England manager, Gareth Southgate.

“We know many of their players who play in the Premier League and throughout Europe.”Senegal are the pinnacle of African football, ranking highest of all the teams on the continent and the current holders of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

This is their third World Cup finals, having also qualified in 2002 when they reached the quarter-finals, and again in 2018 when they were knocked out in the group stages.

BBC Africa’s Babacar Diarra, said: “I think the players are inspired by the 2002 generation with the head coach being former Birmingham and Portsmouth midfielder, Aliou Cisse, the goalkeeper coach, Tony Sylva and other former players close to the team like Lamine Diatta and El Hadji Diouf.

“So after dedicating the win in the AFCON to their elders, and the victory against Ecuador to Papa Bouba Diop, the first-ever Senegalese goal scorer in a World Cup,