African champions Senegal represent the continent’s best chance this year. If the Africa Cup of Nations is anything to judge them by, Senegal start slowly and find their rhythm as the competition advances.

However, a rapid start will be required to pillage the high-flying Dutch in their group opener.

This is only Senegal’s third appearance at the World Cup finals. They impressed in 2002 when they advanced from a group that contained France and went on to reach the quarter-finals, but underperformed in 2018, when they were eliminated in the group stage.

The bookmakers will have The Netherlands on top of this group, but for Senegal, it could be the game against Ecuador that is the most crucial to their hopes of progressing to the next round.

Star player

Senegal had a major scare  after Bayern Munich destroyed Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. Sadio Mane was forced off after just 20 minutes of the game. French newspaper L’Equipe reported that the African player of the year was out of the World Cup, and while Bayern Munich assistant manager Dino Toppmoeller said the injury was “not too bad”, multiple reports have confirmed that Mane is a major doubt for Senegal’s World Cup campaign.

However it should be noted that coach Aliou Cisse cannot afford to ommit Mane from the 26-man squad as he is so important both on and off the team inspiring every moment for Teranga Lions

While he will be a big miss for the African champions, they still have their star defender Kalidou Koulibaly and striker Boulaye Dia, who has 7 goal contributions in 12 games in Serie-A for Salernitana this season.