AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Kalidou Koulibaly was literally inspired by his captain’s armband and penned the number 19 in memory of one of Senegal’s most beloved players.
So Koulibaly became one himself.
The Senegal captain scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Ecuador on Tuesday, putting his team into the round of 16 of the World Cup. despite the absence of the injured Sadio Mané, the best player on the team and one of the best forwards in the world.
No. 19 was in honor of Papa Bouba Diop, the Senegalese midfielder who scored the game-winning goal against defending champions France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup. It was one of Senegal’s greatest football moments and a win that launched that team’s run to the quarterfinals final, which remains Senegal’s best performance.
“We wanted to make him proud. We wanted to pay tribute to him,” Koulibaly said of Diop, who died at the age of 42 exactly two years ago on Tuesday. “He was the one who made me dream as a child. This was something we were not going to let go.
“Thank God I was there to send that ball into the back of the net.”
Only a win against Ecuador would have sent Senegal through to the next round of Group A, and Koulibaly scored the goal that made it possible at the Khalifa International Stadium.
A free kick from Idrissa Gueye bounced off an opponent and came his way. Koulibaly kicked his right foot past Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez in the 70th minute. Koulibaly then ran to the corner flag and took a knee in celebration.
The African champions took the lead after an Ismaila Sarr penalty in the first half. But Moisés Caicedo equalized the score by going unmarked after a corner kick in the 67th minute.
At 1-1, Ecuador was going to advance and Senegal was out.
That result would have been as harrowing as Senegal’s early elimination four years ago, when the team ended the group stage with a loss to Colombia and even on points to Japan. Senegal was eliminated on a fair play rule because they had received two more yellow cards than Japan.
This year, Senegalese coach Aliou Cissé was forced to reinvent his striker following the injury to Mane, who sent a message to the team before the match. Koulibaly said the Bayern Munich striker has also been an inspiration to the team despite not being in Qatar.
“As far as his (Mane’s) injury is concerned, two-thirds of the world probably doubted that we could qualify,” Koulibaly said.
Senegal lost their opening game against the Netherlands 2-0, but gave themselves a chance with a 3-1 win over hosts Qatar. Still, the team needed a win over Ecuador.
“We were up against a brick wall,” Cissé said.
The 24-year-old Sarr won the penalty when he was brought down by an awkward challenge from Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié just before halftime. He shot wide into the bottom right corner in the 44th minute and almost the entire Senegal bench and coaching staff ran towards him.
Sarr also made his way to the corner flag to celebrate while putting his hands over his eyes.
You can watch now, because Senegal has at least one more game to play.
THE SEARCH FOR SENEGAL
Senegal now has a chance to match, or even better, the country’s dazzling run to the quarterfinals in 2002, when Cissé was captain and the team equaled Africa’s best performance at a World Cup. No African team has reached the semi-finals.
ECUADORIAN EMOTION
It was the end of a solid campaign for Ecuador and striker Enner Valencia, who had scored his team’s first three goals at this year’s World Cup and played against Senegal despite suffering a knee strain. Valencia was left to comfort Galindez, who was crying near the end of the game and couldn’t contain himself after the final whistle as he wept on Valencia’s shoulder.
WHATS NEXT
Ecuador is going home after missing out on the group stage for the second time in the country’s history. Senegal finished second in Group A and qualified for the round of 16 with the Netherlands, who beat Qatar 2-0.
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