Given little chance of reaching the finals when drawn against Morocco, Egypt and Algeria, Senegal shocked their rivals by winning the group to clinch a historic first ever appearance at the World Cup.
With a squad made up exclusively of foreign-based professionals, Senegal’s management have steadily knitted together a solid unit confident of surprising Group A rivals France, Uruguay and Denmark.
Under the guidance of Frenchman Bruno Metsu, the ‘Lions of Teranga’ have emerged as one the strongest sides in Africa, and only narrowly missed out on victory at the Nations Cup in Mali earlier this year.
The west Africans’ arrival has largely been down to the Senegal management’s shrewd and energetic recruitment of several France-based professionals.
For years Senegal struggled to make an impression at international level, with poor infrastructure and resources hampering attempts to make the most of modest resources.
A measure of the disorganisation holding Senegal back was the fact that they failed to even enter qualifiers for the 1990 World Cup after an administrative mix-up.
Yet the arrival of Metsu and a slicker approach at the Senegal Football Federation has paid rich dividends.
Metsu, a former coach and scout with Sedan, made the most of his knowledge of French football to secure the services of the many Senegal-qualified players plying their trade abroad.
At the Nations Cup in February, the Senegal side beaten by Cameroon on penalties in the final was made up exclusively of France-based footballers.
”I always knew there were a lot of Senegal players playing in France,” said Metsu. ”Some of them had been there since they were kids and had never even thought of playing for Senegal until we contacted them.
”We have now got a fantastic, talented and disciplined group of players. To win the group after being drawn against Morocco, Egypt and Algeria is proof of their ability,” Metsu added.
There is quality all the way through the Senegal ranks. Monaco’s Tony Sylva was voted goalkeeper of the tournament at the Nations Cup, and just in front of him skipper Aliou Cisse was a rock at centre-half.
Senegal’s defence also features the tough-tackling but skilful right-back Ferdinand Coly, who has emerged as one of the best defenders in Africa despite only turning professional five years ago.
While Metsu may rue the fact that France snapped up the Arsenal’s Dakar-born Patrick Vieira before he could, Senegal nevertheless have plenty of talent in midfield.
The key man is likely to be Auxerre’s Khalilou Fadiga, who came close to opting for an international career with Belgium before plumbing for Senegal.
Fadiga has formed a useful axis with Sedan’s Salif Diao in the midfield engine room, and the form of both players will be vital to Senegal’s hopes of progressing beyond the first round.
Spearheading the attack is Lens’ El Hadji Diouf, an African Player of the Year candidate whose eight goals in qualifying almost single-handedly carried Senegal to the finals.
Though nicknamed the ‘serial killer’ for his clinical finishing, Diouf was disappointing at the Nations Cup in Mali, finishing with only one goal to his name and missing a penalty in the final. – Sapa-AFP