Senegal sealed passage into the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a hard fought 2-1 win against Ecuador at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.
The Teranga Lions finished second in group A behind Netherlands who easily saw off Qatar 2-nil to clinch top place with 7 points.
Senegal went into this game with the mission to win, as a draw would have seen Ecuador advance by a single point more than the former.
Ecuador defended deeply and relied on counters to hurt Senegal, but it was the African side that got the first goal.
Ismaila Sarr won a penalty with just minutes to the end of the first half and he stepped up to coolly convert past the goal keeper.
The South Americans came out strong in the second half and got the equalizer through a dead ball situation.
They won a free-kick on the right flank and the deep cross was flicked on by Felix Torres to the path of Moises Caicedo who was unmarked and the Brighton man was left with a simple tap-in to draw El Tri level in the 67th minute.
Senegal responded almost immediately with another goal as Kalidou Koulibaly was on hand to smash into the net after Ecuador’s defense failed to deal with Senegal’s free-kick.
Victory for the Teranga Lions means they are only the second African Champions to qualify for the round of 16 at the World Cup in the same year.
Aliou Cissé has also became the second indigenous coach, behind Stephen Keshi, to lead an African team past the group stage of the FIFA World Cup.
The winner of group B, which could be any of England, Iran or USA will face Senegal in the round of 16.
