Sports
FOOTBALL enthusiasts have hailed the Lions of Lions of Senegal in spite of their 0-2 loss to the Netherlands in their first Group A game at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two late goals from the Netherlands sealed a crucial victory in their World Cup opener against Senegal on Monday.
It was a tight affair between two even teams, but two goalkeepers, Edouard Mendy mistakes allowed Davy Klaassen and Cody Gakpo to score late goals for Louis van Gaal’s men.
Some football enthusiasts who spoke to NAN after the game noted that the African champions gave a good account of themselves.
They said that inexperience of the team was their greatest undoing.
Gbenga Elegbeleye, former Director-General, National Sports Commission, said the African champions gave a good account of themselves but lost to a better side.
“You could see that the game was won from the bench. It speaks a lot about experience and squad depth.
“This was indeed the vital ingredients lacking in the Senegalese team.
“It was also glaring that the team’s talisman, Sadio Mane was also a big miss as the Senegalese failed to convert their chances upfront,” he said.
Mouktar Mohammed, FCT FA Chairman said it was a bit of a disappointment for Senegal as well as the African continent.
He said that the African champions truly deserved to have gotten something out of the game.
“I think the Senegalese will be disappointed because they dominated the game, especially in the early stages of the second half.
“They conceded the goals in the later stages of the game. So, that’s a bit of a disappointment for the African champions.
“But hopefully they will go home, work on their mistakes and come back strong,” he said.
“The Netherlands have obviously put themselves in a very strong position with this crucial win.
“However, it is not over for Senegal at all as their group isn’t the strongest in the tournament.
“We watched the hosts against Ecuador in their opening game and saw how poor they were. So, I am confident that Senegal will beat Qatar.
“I feel the game between the African champions and Ecuador will be a decider of who finishes second in the group and goes through with Netherlands into the knock out round,” he said.
Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro said that Édouard Mendy was still the best goalkeeper on the continent, and made some vital saves which kept his team in the game.
Babayaro added that Mendy was also guilty as he made some silly mistakes which ultimately cost his side the game.
“Mendy’s goalkeeping errors indeed cost Senegal the game as the first goal was a miscalculation on his part.
“He tried his best to avert the second goal but ended up parrying the ball into the path of the opponent instead of away from goal.
“But, in the overall analysis, team quality and experience played an important role in the game.
“Just when it looked like the match was heading for a goalless draw, Coach Van Gaal broke the deadlock by making two key substitutions which turned the game in the Netherlands favour,” he said.
“I felt sorry for Senegal to be honest and maybe the Dutch deserved to win, but I think 2-0 was a bit flattery a score line for the African champions.
“Now they got their work really cut out for them to ensure qualification to the knockout stage,” he said.
Godwin Bamigboye, the Interim National Coordinator of the Association of Football Administrators in Nigeria (AFAN) said the quality of both teams were incomparable.
“The difference for me was the quality of the teams as well as the absence of Senegal’s key player in the game.
“The African champions indeed can raise their heads high as they held their own against a better side, in terms of quality and experience.
“I don’t want to say it was due to lack of concentration, but it was a really bad time to concede those goals, especially after all the hard work put in by the boys.
“Coach Aliou Cissé must be proud of his boys because they did cause trouble and some scary moments for the Netherlands in the later stages of the match.
“Goalkeeper Andries Noppert had to come up with some of his best moments as he pulled a couple of vital saves to keep the Dutch in the game,” he said.
Senegal will take on hosts Qatar in their second crucial group game on Friday from 8 a.m. for a chance to get their world cup campaign back on track.
Table-toppers Netherlands and Ecuador in group A have three points each after victory in their opening matchday.
Those results left host nation Qatar and African champions Senegal, without a point and they will be facing off in the next matchday desperate for three points.
A draw will do little for both sides, as Senegal look to avoid another first round exit, whilst Qatar want to avoid the embarrassment of being eliminated as hosts.
Leaders Netherlands and Ecuador will meet in the second matchday also on Friday from 11 a.m. with first place on the line.
Winning the group would mean potentially avoiding England in the Round of 16.
The runner-up in Group A will face the first-place team in Group B (England, USA, Wales or Iran) and the Group A winner will come up against the Group B runner-up. (NAN)
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Tags: Cody Gakpo Davy Klaassen Édouard Mendy Edouard Mendy Emmanuel Babayaro Gbenga Elegbeleye Mouktar Mohammed
