Senegal become first African team to beat England
TDT | Manama
Senegal made history on Tuesday night by becoming the first African nation to defeat England, claiming a confident 3-1 win in an international friendly at Nottingham's City Ground. Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly secured a landmark result that stretched Senegal's unbeaten run to 24 matches — and left England facing uncomfortable questions in the early stages of the Thomas Tuchel era.
It was a performance that combined tactical discipline with clinical finishing, underscoring Senegal's continued rise as a force beyond African football.
Fast Start, Fragile Foundation
England looked sharp early on, opening the scoring in the seventh minute through Harry Kane, who pounced after Edouard Mendy spilled a close-range effort from Anthony Gordon. But the early momentum masked deeper structural issues in Tuchel's heavily rotated side, which featured 10 changes from the lacklustre 1-0 win over Andorra.
The defensive shape never fully settled, and Senegal began to find gaps, particularly down the flanks where Sarr and Jackson found joy against an unusually disjointed English backline.
Senegal Flip the Script
Senegal's equaliser came five minutes before the break, when Kyle Walker was caught flat-footed and Sarr reacted quickest to turn in a low cross from Nicolas Jackson. The goal was no more than the visitors deserved after a half in which they had repeatedly tested goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
After the break, England looked lethargic and struggled to manage Senegal's pace and movement in transition. In the 62nd minute, Diarra latched onto a lofted ball behind the defence and finished with composure through Henderson's legs. Sabaly's stoppage-time strike — a confident low finish after a sweeping move — confirmed a famous win.
It might have been worse for England, were it not for Henderson's earlier saves and a late offside flag that ruled out a Jude Bellingham equaliser for a handball in the build-up.
Tuchel Faces Early Reality Check
While the result won't carry competitive consequences, it does sharpen the focus on England's early adaptation under Tuchel. The German coach admitted post-match that his side looked 'frozen' for long periods, and lacked the tempo and sharpness expected at this level.
'Not active enough for long stretches,' Tuchel observed. 'We conceded very easy goals, ones we have to do better with. After that, the reaction was good — more energy, more aggression — but we need to start like that.'
For captain Kane, the themes were familiar: inconsistency in both phases, and a lack of cohesion.
'We're not going to panic,' he said, 'but we know we need to be better. There are new ideas, new players coming in, but no excuses. Every camp matters now — the World Cup is coming fast.'
Senegal Shine on Global Stage
For Senegal, this was more than just a friendly win — it was validation. Under head coach Pape Thiaw, the Teranga Lions have become a model of structure and belief, and their ability to control long spells against England reflects a side with ambitions that stretch well beyond continental titles.
Sarr, Jackson, and Diarra were all standouts, while Mendy's late save to deny Bukayo Saka preserved a lead that was well-earned. The African champions continue to grow in stature — and on nights like these, demand to be taken seriously among football's global elite.
Senegal next face Algeria in September, while England's preparations for the 2026 World Cup resume with qualifiers against Iceland and Hungary. For both, the road ahead looks increasingly shaped by lessons from nights like this.
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