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Senegal
First-time finalist Senegal won't have to wait long to see how good it really is. After all, it faces France in the opener for both teams. Can the Senegalese do to France what Cameroon did to Argentina in the 1990 opener?
Here's a better question: Will the Senegalese be able to hold their own on football's biggest stage? Well, they did qualify from an African group that included two sides with World Cup experience, Morocco and Egypt. That was no fluke, and the world is about to find out why.
As the countdown to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan continues, CNNSI.com's Pedro Pinto will take a close look at all of the nations that will contend for football's greatest prize.
Pinto is an anchor on World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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Since Bruno Metsu took over two games into Senegal's final qualifying campaign, he gave the players the thing they had missed in previous qualifying efforts: direction. Metsu adopted a 5-3-2 formation that quickly paid dividends. Using two wing-backs who provided plenty of crosses for strikers El Hadj Diouf and Moussa Ndiaye, the team scored goals at will in its final games. Henri Camara is also an attacking option to take into account. Senegal is a very well-organized team and has great spirit of sacrifice, two qualities needed to succeed at the highest level.
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El Hadj Osseynou Diouf. The 21-year-old Lens striker was Senegal's deadliest weapon in qualifying, netting eight goals in eight games. He has formidable pace, is strong on the ball and his finishing skills keep on improving. Senegal's opponents at the World Cup better do their homework on Diouf, or they will receive a rude awakening. He could move to a major club after the finals. |
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Lack of experience. None of the Senegalese internationals have ever played in the world's top stadiums and dealt with pressure at its highest level. This will haunt them in Asia. Not even the team's top players have experienced big-time games at club level. Metsu is a motivator, but he has not coached at the World Cup. Unless it benefits from beginner's luck, Senegal should be in for a rough time, at least in its first couple of games.
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Defense.
Senegal conceded only two goals in eight qualifiers. That is an impressive record, but how will it fare against top-quality strikers? Lamine Diatta, Pape Sarr, Aliou Cisse, Omar Daf and Ferdinand Coly are expected to be the starters. Never heard of them? That is the problem. These are defenders who play for second-tier sides, so will they be starstruck in the finals? We'll have to see. |
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Senegal finished first in the CAF Group C, ahead of African power Morocco on goal difference. It also edged out Egypt and Algeria in a balanced group. It won four, drew three and lost one of its eight final-phase qualifiers. The side scored 14 goals and conceded two. |
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Non-existent. Senegal qualified for the finals for the first time ever.
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Senegal has sent shockwaves throughout the world of football by making the finals and beating some of the African continent's biggest teams. The Senegalese are well-organized, devoted to their cause and physically strong, but are they good enough to make the second round? Probably not. If there is going to be an African team going on a run, it will probably be Nigeria or Cameroon. Senegal will play good football but will not have what it takes to make the cut.
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