Senegal stands up to Brazil
By Guillaume Mahot
The international break is the opportunity for clubs to work with players who were not summoned by a national team. For those national teams, it is time for qualifiers (Euro 2020) and friendly games. Yesterday afternoon in Singapore, Senegal was challenging Brazil for the first time in history. The final result (1-1), even though the game was not a decisive one, proved that the Lions were a trustworthy squad on the continent.
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Against the last winner of the Copa America who was playing with the big squad (Neymar, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Daniel Alves, Coutinho, Firmino…), Senegal of coach Aliou Cissé badly started with a goal conceded before ten minutes were played, when Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored on an assist by Gabriel Jesus. The Lions were not impressed and scored before halftime on a penalty from Famara Diedhiou after a foul on Sadio Mané.
For this game, Senegal was getting back Kalidou Koulibaly who had missed the CAN final against Algeria due to a suspension. The starting team was practically the best one with leaders Mané, Koulibaly but also Gueye and Kouyaté on the pitch. The only notable absence was Mbaye Niang’s one, replaced by the goal scorer, Bristol City’s forward, once playing in France (L1, L2).
A friendly game cannot enable to draw some teachings and a draw against Brazil does not mean that Senegal has reached such a level. This being said, the Lions keep progressing by meeting top teams and this could be part of a training for the tournaments that count, like the world cup.
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Right now, the squad is composed of players who are used to playing in fierce leagues, who know the high level and play hard each weekend. Some others, however, do not have this chance, and that is why it can be helpful for them, even if, again, it is no more than a friendly game. Confronting the best ones to beat the best ones one day when times comes up.
Africa Global News Publication
