African football, which did not achieve any victory in the presentation of each of its representatives in the 2022 World Cup, seems to have woken up on the second date with the victories of Senegal against the host Qatar (3-1), the previous Friday, and Morocco 1-0 against Belgium, this Sunday.
Senegal is in a position to aspire to access the round of 16 if they beat Ecuador on Tuesday at the Khalifa International stadium. The team led by Aliou Cissé, living history of the Teranga Lions, was far superior to the hosts in a match in which they confirmed the good feelings of the opening against the Netherlands.
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However, Ecuador, led by the Argentine Gustavo Alfaro, has the same aspirations as the Senegalese and the National Team hopes to advance to the next round at the expense of their last opponent in the group stage. A draw would put the Tricolor in the round of 16.
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In the Senegalese press, the main news topic is the duel of the current African champion team against La Tri. Statements by coach Cissé and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, 33, are reproduced in Dakar newspapers. ‘What he wins asks of his teammates to beat Ecuador’, is the title of a brief note in the newspaper The Observer which includes an opinion of the Senegalese footballer who plays for Everton, in the Premier League.
What they say in Senegal
The note refers that the midfielder asks the members of the Senegal team to be more tuned in the offensive part and more specific in the defensive aspect. The Observer says: “Idrissa Gana Gueye invited his teammates to work more on efficiency and not concede a goal, against Ecuador, during the third day of the World Cup, in group A”. La Tricolor has 4 points, while Senegal reaches the duel with 3.
Meanwhile, in the newspaper The Quotidien, also from Dakar, a piece of news appears in which the Senegalese trainer anticipates that the duel with the Ecuadorians will not be like the one resolved with Qatar. This is the headline: ‘Aliou Cissé, on Tuesday’s final: ‘It will be another game against Ecuador’”.
The coach, who played in the 2002 Japan-South Korea World Cup with Senegal, commented: “This game will require concentration and determination. He feels that this is a really mobilized team and determined to do something in this World Cup. I think we should continue like this. It will be another match against Ecuador (compared to the one played against Qatar)”.
Cissé, a 46-year-old former midfielder, added: “We will have to recover, put the right ingredients back in and rectify at a tactical level to improve and try to qualify (in the match with the Ecuadorians).”
But the sports press of the African nation is also keeping an eye on the striker Enner Valencia and The Observer he wonders: “Will he play against Senegal?” The note details this: “Next Tuesday, Senegal must beat Ecuador to qualify for the round of 16 of the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Enner Valencia, the rival’s goalscorer, was injured in his match on Friday. Will he be able to keep his place (in alienation) in four days? (D)
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Source: Eluniverso
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