Senegal becomes the first African side to take a lead in Qatar 2022 following a comprehensive win over host nation, who are literally out of the FIFA World Cup home soil following two losses from two games.
African Champion, Senegal, who capitulated late in their opening game against The Netherlands made their intentions clear earlier on by dominating proceedings and were rewarded four minutes before the end of the normal time of the first half.
Boulaye Dia pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired past Qatari goalkeeper, Meshaal Barsham and make Senegal the first African team to lead in the ongoing global tournament in Qatar.
Three minutes after the restart, the lead was doubled as Famara Diehiou made a great run to connect with Ismaila Jakobs corner to double the lead for Aliou Cissé’s men.
Mohammed Muntari pulled one back for the host, heading home from a Ismael Mohammed’s cross to halve the deficit with Qatar’s first ever goal in the FIFA World Cup.
However, their joy or any hope of a comeback was short-lived as Bamba Dieng comes off the bench to fire home a low cross from Iliman Ndiaye and restore Senegal’s two goal cushion.
Senegal earned a very crucial win, which takes to up to three points as they now need a win against Ecuador in their final group game to put themselves in a position to progress into the next round of the competition.
Wales suffered an heartbreaking loss to Iran in the first kickoff of the day as late goals from Roozbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian grant Iran a shocking win over the British nation.
Wayne Hennessy becomes only the third goalkeeper to be sent off in World Cup history and the first since 2010 after clashing into Mehdi Taremi in the 86th minute of the match.
With a man down, Wales succumbed to pressure late on the the goals went in in the eighth and eleventh minute of added time as the Asian nation ran out 2-0 winners.
The result means Wales are literally out of the FIFA World Cup and if they’ll magically progress, they will need more than just a miracle in their final group game and result of other group game today and elsewhere on the final day has to go their way.
It is highly unlikely that they advance into the next round while Iran put themselves in a very good position ahead of their final group game against the USA.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
