DOHA, Qatar (AP) — African champion Senegal was outplayed by England and given a actuality verify because it was eradicated within the final 16 on the World Cup.Senegal was lacking its finest participant in Sadio Mane via harm and was additionally hampered by the absence of different key gamers towards England, however nonetheless held hopes of launching a powerful problem in its first World Cup knockout sport in 20 years. The three-0 loss was a bitter finish to a disappointing marketing campaign for Africa’s top-ranked staff.EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCESenegal was rated the very best staff from Africa to ever go to a World Cup and got here to Qatar with a squad filled with Europe-based expertise. Senegal received its first main title on the African Cup of Nations in February and that boosted confidence for the World Cup marketing campaign. Matching its run to the quarterfinals on its World Cup debut in 2002 was the goal.Senegal misplaced its opening group sport 2-0 to the Netherlands however beat host Qatar and a harmful Ecuador staff to achieve the final 16.However Senegal’s latest success has been largely pushed by Mane, his nation’s all-time main scorer. He was dominated out of the World Cup days earlier than it began with a proper leg harm and his absence undoubtedly affected the staff’s possibilities towards England.Even with out Mane, Senegal was nonetheless anticipated to current a a lot more durable problem for 2018 semifinalist England than it did at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday. The lopsided outcome underscored a big hole that is still between African soccer’s continental event and the World Cup, coach Aliou Cisse mentioned.“What’s true on the African Cup of Nations isn’t essentially true on the World Cup due to the caliber of the groups,” Cisse mentioned. “You pay for any mistake that you simply make.”WHO’S OUT?Coach Cisse might be the primary to depart. The previous Senegal captain, who memorably led his nation to the quarterfinals as a participant in 2002, is contracted till 2024 however mentioned within the aftermath of the England defeat that he’d need to rethink how for much longer he’ll keep. Cisse has been current for each certainly one of Senegal’s three appearances on the World Cup; as captain in 2002 and coach in 2018 and this yr. Senegal was eradicated within the group stage 4 years in the past so Cisse the coach hasn’t managed to repeat the success he had as captain 20 years in the past.Cisse, who has been Senegal coach for seven years, mentioned after the England sport that he wanted time to “draw the teachings from this defeat.”Senegal may additionally lose the backbone of its staff earlier than the subsequent World Cup, with captain Kalidou Koulibaly (31 years previous), goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (30), midfielder Idrissa Gueye (33) and Mane (30) all in or approaching their mid-30s in 2026. Mane might properly nonetheless be round for the subsequent World Cup however 4 years is a very long time to keep up a repute as one of many sport’s most feared forwards. His harm simply earlier than Qatar meant he missed out on a World Cup whereas at his peak.WHO’S NEXT?Ismaila Sarr is seen because the participant to take Senegal into the long run. The 24-year-old ahead enhanced his repute in Qatar by shouldering a lot of the accountability up entrance within the absence of Mane. Midfielders Krepin Diatta of Monaco, who’s 23, and Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham, who’s simply 20, also needs to emerge as essential gamers. WHAT’S NEXT?Senegal’s first focus after the World Cup is to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in 2024 and guarantee it has an opportunity at retaining its title. Qualifying resumes in March and the event in Ivory Coast will give Senegal its subsequent alternative to develop a staff able to doing higher on the largest stage in 2026.“We’ve been working laborious to achieve this degree and to be African champions, and now Senegal need to proceed working to make sure on the subsequent World Cup we are able to play higher,” Cisse mentioned.___
What subsequent for African champ Senegal after World Cup exit?
![What subsequent for African champ Senegal after World Cup exit? 6 What next for African champ Senegal after World Cup exit?](https://i0.wp.com/fifanews.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/What-next-for-African-champ-Senegal-after-World-Cup-exit.webp-scaled.webp?resize=860%2C573&ssl=1)