African representatives at the 2018 FIFA World Cup  Senegal and Morocco drew blanks as the two World Cup-bound teams were held to 0-0 draws on Thursday.

Senegal’s preparations began with a limp stalemate away to Luxembourg although talisman Sadio Mane sat out the game, having only joined the squad this week after the Champions League final where he scored for Liverpool in their loss to Real Madrid.

It was the third successive draw for the Lions of Teranga since they qualified for next month’s tournament and they now head to the Austrian Alps to train.

They will also face fellow World Cup qualifiers Croatia and South Korea before heading to Russia where they play Colombia, Poland and Japan in the group stage.

Morocco were held goalless by Ukraine in Geneva as they prepare to start their campaign against Iran before facing Spain and European champions Portugal in their World Cup group on their first appearance at the finals since 1998.

“The first preparation match was the best means to review that and repeat the fundamentals,” Morocco coach Herve Renard told reporters. “The important thing is to keep our way of working. We will be ready on 15 June.”