By Gabe Campis
When you look past the star power of teams that are considered to be the best, that is when you discover the driving forces of sport. The players with the grit and determination, who don’t care about how spectacular or incredible they look and will put their body on the line for a teammate, that is what makes football go.
That isn’t to say players shouldn’t showcase the skills they crafted after countless hours of training or expressing their personality with a creative dance routine after scoring, for those things are important. But when you are playing in front of millions of people, it’s more about sticking to the style and plan that brought those successes.
Looking at the footballers Senegal will bring with them to the 2018 World Cup, there’s strong reason to believe they won’t stray from who they are. They’re a bunch of guys who won’t shy away from a crunching tackle or a flying, scissor kick volley – I’m looking at you Sadio Mane – and that is what is brilliant about them.
After ending their 16-year drought from world football’s most decorated event with a win against South Africa on November 14, the Lions of Teranga were immediately on the underdog radar.
After the draw on December 1 placed them with Colombia, Japan and Poland, that underdog thought might have decreased some, but it is still lingering. Although the rankings FIFA uses to seed teams for the draw aren’t perfect, when considering the superstar talent of the likes of James Rodriguez of Colombia or Robert Lewandowski of Poland, this group is undoubtedly one of the most competitive.
Senegal is no stranger to the underdog feeling, though, and will have the motivation to replicate its dazzling run in 2002. After a runner-up finish to Cameroon in the African Cup of Nations in February of that year, the team’s subsequent run to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup in Japan, the nation’s first appearance at one, was more than much of the Senegalese faithful would have imagined.
Among a few lesser-known players, the 2002 Senegal team was led by the polarizing but impetuous El Hadji Diouf. A former Liverpool forward who was known for some breathtaking moments but also for his fair share of controversial remarks and actions, Diouf had an imposing tournament and looked to be a sharp signing for Liverpool.
Grouped with defending champions France, along with Uruguay and Denmark, Senegal finished in second with five points to advance to the knockout rounds. After a golden-goal win against Sweden and a former outstanding striker in Henrik Larsson, Senegal fell to Turkey 1-0 in the quarters.
Fast forward to the current squad and you have more established stars but also a more well-rounded team. While a few of the members of the 2002 team had minimal success in their club careers, this Senegal team has players who have built good careers and are among the best in the world at their position.
The Squad
From defense to attack Senegal can field a lineup that has pace but pragmatism will show tenacity but leaders who can instill composure. Starting at the No. 1 position, goalie, Senegal has a few players who have split time there during the past few matches.
At a position that needs to be strong, especially in a group with so many outstanding attacking players, this is, unfortunately, Senegal’s shakiest. Among Abdoulaye Diallo, Alfred Gomis and Khadim Ndiaye, none have taken hold of the starting spot, with Diallo and Ndiaye each starting four matches during qualifiers.
At 33 and with 24 international appearances, N’Diaye, the netminder for Horoya AC in Guinea, would be the choice if the manager Aliou Cisse wants more guidance at the back, but Gomis appears to be the best option if he wants someone who has had consistent playing time against top competition.
On loan from Torino, the 24-year-old Gomis saw plenty of action for SPAL in Italy’s Serie A this past season, as they narrowly beat relegation. He is a mobile and agile presence in the net and made his debut in Senegal’s World Cup-clinching victory at home versus South Africa, so that might point to him having a chance at some playing time in Russia.
Considering the mystery of what will happen behind them, the composition of the Senegalese defense will be fundamental in determining how far they progress in this tournament.
The looming figure that is Kalidou Koulibaly, one of the top central defenders in Europe for Italian runners-up Napoli, will be the conductor of the back line of their favored 4-3-3 formation.
His rise from the academy of French side Metz has been noted, and after representing France at the U20 level, he opted to represent Senegal in 2015, accumulating 23 caps since then.
Koulibaly’s a big lad and doesn’t mind going toe-to-toe with the likes of Lewandowski or Colombian poacher Radamel Falcao. He will attempt to organize a defense that has players who are established in Europe but don’t have the experience playing against the top competition as Koulibaly.
Salif Sane, Senegal’s next most accomplished defender from Bundesliga club Hannover, is a possible center back partner for Koulibaly. Possibly remembered most for an incredible bicycle kick in 2015, Sane’s aerial prowess is similar to Koulibaly’s, but he is a little more technically sound than the Napoli man and can also play as a defensive midfielder.
It will be between Sane and Kara Mbodji, a center back for Anderlecht in Belgium, on who will play alongside Koulibaly. Mbodji has a lot of international experience the four matches with Koulibaly during qualifiers. He also scored the winning goal in that vital win against South Africa, and at 28 with 51 caps is the most experienced international player in this defense.
Taking up the fullback positions will likely be Saliou Ciss or Youssouf Sabaly on the left and Lamine Gassama on the right. A quick, smooth role player, Ciss loves to join the attack coming up the left flank and isn’t a stranger to taking players on with some slick tekkers.
He only made nine appearances in 17/18 for second-tier French side Valenciennes so form might be difficult to come by, but he featured in eight of nine qualifying fixtures for Senegal, so he will likely be given a chance to knock some rust off.
A French youth international like Koulibaly, Sabaly started Senegal’s final two qualifying matches at left back and is comfortable playing on the right, too. From what he has shown playing for Evian, Nantes and Bordeaux in France, he is a good comparison to West Brom’s Cameroonian fullback Allan Nyom in regard to his lanky build, strong work rate and athletic versatility.
A former PSG academy product, Sabaly also has a sense of composure in tense situations, skilled at picking the right pass out of the back.
Finally, we have Gassama, a right back who plays his club ball for Alanyaspor in Turkey is one last defender who will be expected to play a big role in Russia for The Lions of Teranga. Much like many of Senegal’s outside backs, Gassama is capable of adding to the attack and should be a reliable source of energy and creativity.
Other than a brilliant and electrifying forward line, the Senegal midfield is the next most noteworthy part of this team. This collection of tenacious and gritty ball winners includes the squad’s captain, West Ham United’s Cheikhou Kouyate, and several more low-key players.
An outstanding and physically-gifted footballer, Kouyate’s authority at holding mid has rightfully thrust him into the captaincy and made him a mainstay for club and country. What he lacks in speed he makes up for with his long legs and smart positioning, and his defensive mindset and passing abilities are important for this side that will likely feed off counterattacking chances.
Playing a little more advanced in the Senegal midfield but still a defensive stalwart is Everton’s Idrissa Gana Gueye. With 58 appearances for his native land, Gueye will be the most capped player for Senegal when they kick off on June 19 at Spartak Stadium in Moscow. Before arriving at Everton in 2016, Gueye spent time at Lille in France and then moved to England where he played at Aston Villa for one season.
Almost a like-for-like comparison to French superstar midfielder N’Golo Kante, Gueye gives opposing forwards and midfielders nightmares with his uncanny tackling and stamina. He consistently ranks near the top of Premier League when it comes to successful tackles and interceptions, and always makes it hard for the opposing offense to maintain any rhythm.
Badou Ndiaye completes what was Senegal’s most commonly used midfield trio in qualifying. Another great interceptor, Ndiaye made a move from Turkish club Galatasaray to Stoke on transfer deadline day in January.
Although he couldn’t prevent The Potters from being relegated, he did pop and score in a 2-1 win against Swansea in May. Decidedly more attacking than Gueye or Kouyate, Ndiaye is a nicely coordinated dribbler and has a knack for springing his team forward after winning the ball.
Being asked to help clean up the defense and complement the forwards, Senegal’s midfield plays its role well. That can’t be overlooked, especially as we consider the load the forwards have to carry.
Starting with Mane, the best player in the team and a world-class winger, there are several players who can fit into the front three of this formation. Mane’s exploits at the club level have been well-documented after he made the jump from Southampton to Liverpool in 2016. He scored 13 goals in 27 appearances in his first season at Anfield and showed a dynamism with the ball that few other players can.
With the arrival of Mohamed Salah, Mane’s role changed in his second season, but he still bagged an impressive 20 goals and was a key member of a potent attacking trio along with Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Despite playing on the left at Liverpool, Mane will line up on his preferred right wing for Senegal. Fairly ambidextrous, he is comfortable taking players to the touchline with his favored right foot but doesn’t mind cutting inside and hitting a shot with his left, as she showed in his debut for the Reds against Arsenal in 2016.
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With Mane holding down the right-wing spot, though, it’s less clear as to who will win the battle for the left side. Keita Balde, M’Baye Niang and Ismaila Sarr will be on the flight to Russia, with all three seeing minutes on the left during qualifying.
After making a big switch from Lazio to Monaco, Keita is coming off an average season for the principality club, after multiple hamstring injuries limited his time on the pitch. Nevertheless, if he is healthy and anywhere close to the 16-goal form he exhibited in his final season at Lazio, he would be the clear choice at left-wing.
Although Niang and Sarr aren’t as skilled or heralded as Keita, both have speed to burn which can cause problems for most defenses, so they will definitely get their chance.
Lastly, we have the top of the 4-3-3, the striker position. Diafra Sakho tied for the team lead in qualifying with two goals, but it was more of a collective effort that helped the Lions of Teranga win their group. That is not to say Sakho isn’t a qualified option, for he scored 18 league goals during his stint at West Ham and is a clean finisher from tight angles.
Moussa Sow, Senegal’s active leading scorer with 18 international goals and a center forward for Bursaspor in Turkey, will certainly make his argument to be in the first XI come Senegal’s opening match.
A stout and solid man, Sow enjoys throwing his body around, as seen when he scored an outlandish bicycle kick against Manchester United in the Europa League.
https://giphy.com/embed/37oQLMhI17RqJDjNI1via GIPHY
Although he seems to go searching for physical play, Sow has nimble feet and makes smart, progressive runs as a No. 9.
At 32, Sow’s career is on the horizon but with the young midfield and wingers surrounding him, it wouldn’t be a shock for him to score a couple of goals during group stage action.
The last player that could be a healthy alternative at striker is Stoke City’s, Mame Biram Diouf. Thought to be a potential star after moving from Norwegian club Molde to Manchester United in 2009, Mame Biram Diouf’s career has dwindled since.
Amid loan spells back to Molde and then at Blackburn, Diouf played in only five matches for United as a substitute, scoring one goal.
He has been Mr. Utility at Stoke, playing on the wing and at right back, but has always been at home as a lone striker. Diouf is excellent in the air, never afraid to challenge for a ball whether it’s in the box or in the middle of the park, and like Sakho and Sow, he will punish slack or casual defending.
Underdog Mentality
Similar in a way to the “Golden Age” of the Belgium National Team, what makes this Senegal team so intriguing is how so many of their players are in that prime 25-30 age range.
Videos on social media seem to show they get along well, and the collective aspect they showed in qualifying was a testament to that. With plenty of leaders, both the vocal and non-vocal type, they have good camaraderie among them.
In evaluating Senegal’s underdog candidacy, there are certain aspects of the team that make them a strong option. An under the radar attack is one characteristic that previous World Cup underdogs have shown, such as Joel Campbell and Costa Rica in 2014 or Asamoah Gyan’s Ghana in 2010.
Spearheaded by Campbell, former Fulham man Bryan Ruiz and an industrious and rugged winger in Christian Bolanos, the Ticos of Costa Rica shocked the world and finished first in their group ahead of England, Italy and Uruguay.
Taking advantage of well-worked set pieces and with Keylor Navas only surrendering two goals throughout their progression to the quarterfinals, Costa Rica exemplified the passion and chemistry Senegal is capable of emulating.
Although the Lions of Teranga have more well-known stars in attack than that Costa Rican squad, the similarities are there. Campbell’s love for dribbling at players and making nifty passes is something Sadio Mane has basically trademarked, but both players have moments where they are overeager and will overdribble.
Not an attacker by nature, Christian Gamboa was Costa Rica’s right back in Brazil in 2014, but still found ways to contribute on offense. Probably known more for his quickness than Sabaly for Senegal, they both make opportune runs into the opponent’s box and will finish a chance when given it.
Costa Rica did their damage without flash or glamour but that’s what makes underdog stories the best. Like Senegal, they were in a tough group, given little chance to progress and eventually ended up defying those low odds.
The Path
It all comes down to finding the right form. Starting with that first match against Poland, Senegal has an opportunity waiting to be taken. A win or draw in the opener and the belief will be there, a loss and it isn’t as clear but still up for grabs. That is the beauty of football, particularly in the World Cup: if you can string together a good run and catch someone off guard, the possibilities are endless.
Without considering the result against Poland, Senegal’s second group stage fixture against Japan is likely a must-win match. Japan won’t go down easy, for they have scoring potential with veteran players Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa still showing creative ability, but they have struggled recently.
The final matchup against Colombia poses the biggest challenge for Senegal to advance into the elimination rounds, for Los Cafeteros have several players returning to the World Cup after they reached the quarterfinals four years ago.
Headlined by Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado, Colombia finished fourth in the gauntlet that is South America’s World Cup Qualifying rounds but might overlook this motivated Senegal side.
Finishing first or second would set Senegal up for a date with the winners or runners-up of Group G, which consists of Belgium, Panama, England and Tunisia.
But no matter their results or where they finish, it will unquestionably be a fun ride for the Lions of Teranga, and a fun time for football fans.
Gabe Campis 