The Lions of Teranga helped set a new World Cup record for African teams with victory over Ecuador, while Tunisia broke another against France.
Senegal’s 2-1 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday secured their advancement to the World Cup round of 16, while also helping to set an African record in the tournament’s history, while Tunisia broke another African record with victory over France on Wednesday.
The Teranga Lions’ triumph, secured by Kalidou Koulibaly’s superb finish after Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring from the penalty spot, was enough to ensure Senegal reached the round of 16 for the second time in their history.
Having won the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Senegal is aiming to follow in the footsteps of the team’s Golden Generation and advance to the quarterfinals in 2002.
They are also hoping, after facing England in the round of 16, that they can not only emulate the team’s round of 16 finish from 2002, but even break an African record and become the first team from the continent to reach the semi-finals. .
Senegal have already contributed to an African record being broken at this tournament.
Never before in the history of the African World Cup had teams from the continent won more than three matches against each other in the group stage of the tournament.
In fact, over the last six editions of the tournament, African teams have been very consistent, winning three group stage matches in each campaign from 1998 to 2018.
Prior to that, Africa had never won more than two matches in any edition of the tournament, having recorded one or two wins between 1978, when Tunisia secured Africa’s first World Cup victory by beating Mexico, and 1994, when only three African teams participated. .
On Wednesday, though unable to avoid elimination, Tunisia broke another African record by beating France 1-0 with a goal from Wahbi Khazri.
Already in this tournament, Africa has won five matches and the group stage is not even complete. It is already a record for a single edition of the tournament.
Senegal have been responsible for two victories, defeating Qatar before dispatching Ecuador, while Morocco’s 1-0 win over Belgium, Ghana’s 3-2 win over Ghana and Tunisia’s win on Wednesday have also contributed. to Africa’s record victory in the tournament.
While Senegal’s victories, against teams ranked much lower than then in the FIFA World Ranking, were perhaps to be expected, Morocco’s victory against Belgium, Ghana’s success against South Korea and Tunisia’s triumph over the World champions have been top achievements for the continent’s teams.
Does this represent evidence of long-term progression for African teams, or is it a fluke? Only time will tell, perhaps, as the fortunes of teams from Africa clear up in the 2022 tournament, but it’s already an impressive milestone to have passed.
In both 2002 and 2010, Africa reached a record four wins in a single World Cup tournament, with Senegal and Ghana adding group stage successes; Tunisia has already broken this record.
What else can Cameroon, Ghana and Morocco achieve before reaching the round of 16 this year?
Which African team will go further in the World Cup?
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