World Cup: Senegal beat Ecuador

UPDATE DAY

In a match with a ticket to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the winning nation, Senegal had the last laugh against Ecuador, winning 2-1 , Tuesday in Qatar. 

The Teranga Lions can thank Kalidou Koulibaly, who netted the winner in the 70th minute. a very bad Ecuadorian defensive maneuver following a Senegalese free kick just outside the penalty area. 

Senegal thus progresses beyond the preliminary round for the second time in three participations in the World Cup. The last time was in 2002, and they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Turkey. Twenty years later, Senegal wants to do better.

“It's a lot of pride,” said midfielder Pape Gueye, according to AFP. Millions of Senegalese are watching us, we had to give everything for this shirt. It's historic, but we're staying focused, we're not going to get carried away, we're going to keep working, that's what brought us back here. We're ambitious, we don't know how far we're going to go, we have a goal in mind, but it stays in the team, and it's not just a round of 16.”

In the eighth round, Senegal have an appointment with England.

In the Equator clan, morale was good low after the defeat, synonymous with the end of the journey on the biggest soccer stage in the world.

All is not negative, however, with in particular a 2-0 victory against Qatar and a draw 1 to 1 against the Netherlands. The formation is also made up of 11 players aged 23 or under out of the club's 26 players, suggesting a bright future.

“It's a very hard blow, a very big frustration, said started by saying coach Gustavo Alfaro. To be left out is painful. But Ecuador must not lose sight of what these boys have achieved. It's a very young generation. She has acquired experience, it will serve her in the future. I have no doubt that they will have their revenge. We lacked the experience that allows us to better manage the time that flies by.”