Reigning African Champions Senegal will be facing a stern test in their opening fixture of 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup against the Netherlands on Monday 21 November.
Aliou Cisse believes his side can leave a mark at this year’s World Cup. The West Africans will look to extend their perfect opening-game record at the tournament when they face the Netherlands.
Senegal have won their previous two openers which included the win over reigning World Cup Champions France in 2022 Korea Japan and most recently a 2-1 victory against Poland in 2018.
Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup , but they were eliminated in the group stage in the 2018.
Many are of the view that this Senegal team has what it takes to go very far or probably go all the way to the final.
Even without star man Sadio Mane who is out of the tournament due to Injury, Aliou Cisse has enough players at his disposal to get the job done in Group A
“The aim is to get out of this group,” Cisse said.
“We will leave our mark. People are already looking ahead to the last 16, the quarter-finals, but we will be taking it a game at a time.
“We’re not getting carried away. It’s up to us to fully prepare ourselves and to do so wisely. We were knocked out of the last World Cup after just three games.”
Senegal defeated Egypt in February to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title, before beating the same side the following month in a World Cup qualifying play-off to reach Qatar 2022.
Cisse’s side are ranked 18th in the world – 10 places behind the Netherlands – and are without star man Sadio Mane in these finals due to injury.
Senegal may have a perfect opening-game record, but the Netherlands are unbeaten in their past eight curtain-raising matches, winning six of those.
The Dutch are back on the world stage after failing to qualify for Russia 2018, with veteran boss Louis van Gaal now in his third spell in charge.
Van Gaal, who will step aside at the end of the tournament, admits his side will need more than just talent to go all the way in Qatar and lift the trophy for the first time.
“I don’t believe we have the best players on earth in our team,” he said. “But I believe in team building and in tactics. I believe we can go far.
“But we also need luck – that is also important. Because of that and because I believe in imagination, we could be the world champion at the end of the tournament.”
This will be the first time that Senegal and the Netherlands will be meeting in a competitive fixture.
The Netherlands are unbeaten in four matches against African opposition in the finals, while Senegal have won two and drawn one against European sides in the group stage.
Players to Watch
Senegal
The Teranga Lions will be without Sadio Mane but they still have enough exciting players to watch. Ismaila Sarr is one of the rising Stars in the Senegal squad. At only 24 years of age. He will be playing in his second World Cup.
Netherlands:
Virgil Van Dijk is not only a defender for the Dutch but is a leader on and off the pitch. The Liverpool Star is arguably one of the best defenders in the World.
Match Details:
Senegal vs Netherlands (Group A)
Date: Monday 21 November, 2022
Time: kick-off 18:00 CAT | 19:00 EAT
Venue: Al Thumama Stadium
