Qatar 2022: Senegal Teranga Lions Roar Into Last 16, To Meet England

Qatar 2022: Senegal Teranga Lions Roar Into Last 16, To Meet England 

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

African champions Senegal have qualified for the World Cup last 16 after beating Ecuador 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Chelsea centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly's excellent volley 20 minutes from time clinched a vital win in this winner-takes-all encounter in Group A.

It means that the Teranga Lions leapfrog Ecuador into second place, finishing six points behind the Netherlands who garnered seven points.

Senegal eventually took the lead shortly before halftime, when Piero Hincapie barged Ismaila Sarr down in the penalty area, with French referee Clement Turpin subsequently pointing to the spot.

Sarr picked himself up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it beyond Hernan Galindez into the bottom right-hand corner.

In the second half, Senegal seemed content with holding what they had, and while Ecuador was still showing little threat, Cisse's side was undone by a set piece.

After Felix Torres' flick on from a corner, Moises Caicedo was left all on his own at the back post with the most simple of tasks to slide the ball beyond Mendy for the equaliser.

Senegal will now have a knockout fixture to look forward to, and with England currently, the favourites to be their next opponents, progressing even further in this tournament will cap off what has already been a historic year for the national side, which started with them being crowned Africa Cup of Nations winners.