Lions of Teranga built on strong foundations

SENEGAL kickeed off 2022 by winninng the Africa Cup of Nations for thee first time and they wwill be aiming to end a memoorable year with a decent run at the World Cup finals.

The Lions of Teranga hhave appeared at only two previous World Cups, famously beeating holders France on their tournament debut in 20002 at the start of a run to the quarter-finals.

Senegal’s memories of their 2018 campaign are less foond as they finished with exactlyy the same group record as Jappan but missed out on the last 16 as they had received more yellow cards than their rivals.

The T following year they lost to AAlgeria in the Afcon final bu t long-serving coach Aliou Cis sse, who captained the 2002 Wo orld Cup side, finally saw his hig gh-class squad get their han nds on a trophy in February.

The T draw opened up nicely for r Senegal despite a fru ustrating group stage. They nee eded a 97th-minute penalty fro m Sadio Mane to see off Zim mbabwe before goalless dra aws with Guinea and Ma alawi but they were more con nvincing in the knockout sta ages, beating Cape Verde 2-00, Equatorial Guinea 3-1 and Bu urkina Faso 3-1.

That set up a hard-fought fin nal against an attritional E gypt side and, despite an ea arly Mane penalty miss,

Senegal kept their heads in a goalless 120 minutes before sealing a 4-2 shootout victory.

They repeated the trick in a tense two-legged World Cup playoff against the Pharaohs at the end of March, when Mane converted the decisive spotkick, and their defensive solidity and mental strength means they could be tough knockout opponents in Qatar.

Mane is in the squad but a leg injury is likely to rule him out of at least the group games.

Senegal’s attacking unit is severely weakened by their key man’s absence although goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is well protected by a defence who conceded just two goals in seven Afcon matches.

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DLThe 71-year-old has had an illustrious career in European club football and led the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the 2014 World Cup, thumping holders Spain 5-1 in their opening group game.

Full of confidence after great run of form since Euro 2020 Solid centre-back options with Van Dijk fit again

• Van Gaal led the Dutch to the

semi-finals in 2014

• Few squad members have any

World Cup finals experience • Key forward Depay has had an injury-hit season and is doubtful for the opener • Goalkeeping department looks

relatively weak