After their worrying two draws in March, Senegal took advantage of the friendlies in June to raise their heads. After the convincing success against Zambia (3-1) on Saturday, the Lions continued by disposing of Cape Verde (2-0) on Tuesday in the derby in Thiès. After the progress posted against the Chipolopolos, the content was however very average despite a slight improvement in the second half.
From the first moments, Aliou Cissé’s men obtained two good situations but Diatta then Boulaye Dia lost their face-to-face against the opposing goalkeeper. Over the minutes, the Blue Sharks, strong defensively and hard-hitting against, however began to respond and Koulibaly had to intervene in disaster to counter the Messin Vagner Dias. Then Rocha’s pricked head at the far post was going to die on the bar! It was the best opportunity of this first act despite a Senegalese reaction at the end with the strike from Sarr who passed right next to then the too crushed head of Mané.
But, upon returning from the locker room, everything turned on a free kick that Gana Gueye sent superbly into the skylight to open the scoring (1-0, 56e). What a treat ! On a good dynamic, the Lions pushed hard and Gueye, on an acrobatic recovery, was deprived of the double due to an offside, while Sarr was refused, probably wrongly, a penalty. During a less rhythmic end to the game, the Watford winger however ended up obtaining a penalty converted by Mané who sealed the match (2-0, 86e). A month of June which will have allowed the Senegalese to regain a little confidence before approaching the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup from September.
Gueye’s superb free kick on video
???? Magnificent free kick from our Parisian Idrissa Gueye with Senegal ???????? pic.twitter.com/ICtcRoLqCC
– Parisian Media (@MediaParisien) June 8, 2021
The starting lines
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23 – @sixtenmohlin
2 – @22Stopira
14 – Diney
8 – Willy Semedo
4 – @steven_FP
16 – @Risswell_
5 – Nuno Borges
10 – Kenny Rocha
18 – Lysander Semedo
11 – Vagner Days
19 – Julio Tavares pic.twitter.com/1LKH0Keq2f— Cape Verdean Football Federation (@fcfcomunica) June 8, 2021