The draw for the 2026 FIFA world Cup has set the stage for a captivating rematch, pitting the Senegal national football team, the Lions of Teranga, against the formidable French squad. This encounter is sure to evoke sweet memories for Senegalese football aficionados, harkening back to a historic upset.
In 2002, Senegal stunned the football world by defeating the reigning world and European champions, France, 1-0 in the opening match of the tournament. This landmark victory propelled the African nation on an amazing journey to the quarter-finals, a testament to their skill and determination.
Among the heroes of that 2002 squad was Pape Thiaw, who now leads Senegal as their coach. Reflecting on the upcoming clash, Thiaw acknowledged the past significance of the 2002 win but emphasized that past glories won’t guarantee future success. “The victory of 2002 is historic, but history will not count on the field,” Thiaw stated. “It will be a special match in any case. I was in the group as a footballer 24 years ago, we won this match and we were out of the group, let’s hope it happens the same way.”
A “Brotherly” Encounter with High Stakes
Senegal has been drawn into Group I alongside France, Norway, and the winner of an intercontinental play-off featuring Bolivia, suriname, or Iraq. Thiaw recognized the challenge ahead, stating, “It’s not an easy group but if we’re here, in hat 2, it’s as we’ve shown good things. Norway and France have enormous personalities but, in the World Cup, there is no easy team.”
While setting a specific objective is difficult, Thiaw expressed the team’s ambition: “We want to go as far as possible.” He also shared a personal anecdote, revealing that he and French coach Didier Deschamps had a conversation during their flight, hoping to avoid facing each other.”France and Senegal are two brother countries, everyone knows that,” Thiaw remarked. “For me it’s my 2nd country, I learned lots of things there. But now I defend the colors of my country. It’s a football match, which is not going to be easy.”
Addressing the formidable French side, Thiaw highlighted their collective strength rather than focusing on individual brilliance. “France is a collective! There are individualities, Kylian (Mbappé) is doing wonders but we are going to focus on the collective, not on a single player,” he clarified. This strategic approach underscores Senegal’s belief in their team unity and tactical discipline as they prepare to face one of the world’s elite footballing nations.
