In this blog we will be taking a comprehensive look at the Senegal national football team and their chances at the FIFA World Cup. Are you a supporter of the Senegal football team? Check out betting tips and odds at LV BET Sportsbook and place your bets on your favourite team.
Senegal have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, in 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals – which is the nation’s best-ever finish – and in 2018. They were the first team in World Cup history to be eliminated using the fair play rule after being tied with Japan on the first six tiebreakers.
Senegal’s national football team has been heavily influenced by French culture mainly due to the countries previous colonisation by the European power. As a result, many of their players star in Ligue 1, so much so that the first time they qualified for the World Cup, only two players did not play in France.
Read on to learn more about:
- Senegal’s football team FIFA World Cup history
- Senegal’s road to Qatar
- Senegal squad
- LV BET betting tips on Senegal
Senegal at the FIFA World Cup
Senegal have qualified for the third FIFA World Cup in their history by making it to the tournament in Qatar. Their first appearance was back in 2002 when they were matched in Group A. It was one of the shocks of the tournament as defending champions France were eliminated from the group without scoring a goal after defeats to Denmark and the Senegal national football team.
Senegal’s first game in a World Cup was one of the best games that any debutant national team ever had, winning against the defending champions. It was a great statement of intent and that they were no pushovers. After the opening game victory, the Senegal football team managed to draw against Denmark 1-1 and against Uruguay 3-3, seeing them qualify for the round of 16. In the knockout stage, Senegal football team faced Sweden, and with the game being forced to extra-time and the golden goal rule still in play, Henri Camara followed up his first-half goal with a brilliant winning strike in the 104th minute of the game sending the Senegal national team to their first-ever quarter-final. In the quarter-final against Turkey, the game was forced to extra time but this time around the Lions of Teranga were on the wrong end of a golden goal as Ilhan of Turkey scored in the 94th minute.
You can watch all the goals scored by the Senegal national football team in 2002, here
Senegal successes and failures at the previous FIFA World Cup
One of the biggest success stories by a national team on the World Cup stage will surely be the performance of Senegal in 2002. Most of the credit was given to coach Metsu, who is currently coaching the United Arab Emirates national team. Here, you can watch him talk about the experience and what it meant for the Senegal nation to win against France in the opening match and also make it as far as the quarter-final in their first appearance. That campaign was one of the best World Cup performances by an African nation.
The other campaign in which they qualified was the 2018 World Cup, and this was a tougher ask for the Senegal national team as they did not make it out of the group stage. In the opening match, Senegal managed to secure yet another victory, this time against Poland. In the second game, they came up against Japan in a very competitive and balanced game; it finished 2-2. In the last game of the group stage, they fell to defeat the eventual group winners Colombia. Senegal national team were level on points with Japan after the games were played, but it was heartbreak for the Senegal squad as the team were eliminated from the World Cup on the fair play tiebreaker rule. Senegal became the first team to ever be eliminated from the World Cup on this rule.
Senegal’s road to the Qatar 2022 World Cup
Senegal topped group H in the World Cup qualifying rounds, which saw them play against other nations that finished first in their respective groups. They reached the final playoff game against Egypt, which had to be decided in two games. Egypt won the first game 1-0 at home, giving them the edge in the tie, but Senegal managed to claw back and forced a penalty shootout. Senegal took full advantage of the fact that the game was played at home and distracted the Egyptian players as best they could, and it was a Senegal win as they scored three penalties and only one by Egpyt.
You can watch the final game highlights here.
Who will Senegal play against at the Qatar 2022 World Cup?
Senegal will take part in Group A of the FIFA World Cup and thus find themselves in the group of the hosts, Qatar. The other teams making up the group are Netherlands and Ecuador. The Netherland are the favourites to come out on top and win the group, whilst Qatar are the least likely to stun the World and win the group in their debut appearance.
The fixtures for the Senegal national football team are as follows:
- Senegal vs Netherlands 21 November 2022 11:00 AI Thumama Stadium
- Qatar vs Senegal 25 November 2022 14:00 AI Thumama Stadium
- Ecuador vs Senegal 29 November 2022 16:00 Khalifa International Stadium
Senegal squad for the World Cup in Qatar
Senegal football team have one of the fiercest and world-class players from all the African nations. Senegal has produced some great talents over the years, and recently they haven’t disappointed. One of the most known players is Sadio Mane, who has been a great signing by Liverpool and is widely praised for his work ethic by Jurgen Klopp; in the upcoming season, he will be joining Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich.
Another star man is Edouard Mendy, who plays for Chelsea after playing most of his early career in the lower leagues in France. Since joining Chelsea, he has been a consistent performer and being key in winning the Champions League. In front of Mendy, he will have solid reinforcements in the form of Kalidou Koulibaly, who plays with Napoli in the Serie A.
Other players include Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr and Abdou Diallo, who all play in Europe’s biggest leagues giving the Senegal national football team players great experience when it comes to big games such as the World Cup.
The current head coach of the Senegal squad is Aliou Cisse, who has been managing the national team since 2015.
Where to see FIFA World Cup 2022 matches in Senegal?
All around Senegal, there will be places where you can enjoy a nice meal whilst watching the Senegal National team in action. Kick-off times will vary depending on the fixture, but all will be played in the late or early afternoon.
You will be able to watch all the action unfold in all FIFA World Cup license holders as well as bars and restaurants that own the rights to show the matches.
For more information, please visit the official FIFA website here.
Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 tickets — prices, sale dates and tournament stages
For more information regarding ticket sales and accessibility tickets, please visit the official website here.
All tickets are sold in Qatari riyal (QAR) to both residents of Qatar and International fans.
| FIFA World Cup round | Category I | Category II | Category III |
| Opening match | 2,250 | 1,600 | 1,100 |
| Group phase | 800 | 600 | 250 |
| 1/8 final | 1,000 | 750 | 350 |
| Quarterfinal | 1,550 | 1,050 | 750 |
| Semifinal | 3,480 | 2,400 | 1,300 |
| Match for 3rd place | 1,550 | 1,100 | 750 |
| Final | 5,850 | 3,650 | 2,200 |
Betting tips and odds on Senegal National team
Senegal will be playing in Group A, meaning that Senegal will face off against Ecuador, Qatar and favourites the Netherlands as they make a comeback to the World Cup group stages.
The Netherlands are priced at 2/5 (1.40), whilst Senegal are close behind at 9/2 (5.50), with Ecuador at 6/1 (7.00) and Qatar at 14/1 (15.00), lacking behind.
Bets on Senegal National Football team at LV BET
With Senegal starting off the previous World Cup campaigns with a win, we are pricing them to once again start with a win against the Netherlands at 4/1 (5.00), whilst the Netherlands are at 3/4 (1.75)
We hope that you have enjoyed reading a detailed overview of the Senegal national team as well as their chances going into the Qatar FIFA World Cup. Thank you for your support.