Senegal’s Victory Against England’s Spoilt Brats Long Overdue For African Football

When the England Football Association confirmed a friendly match against Senegal, bookies quickly drew up odds in favour of the Three Lions.

The game appeared to be done and dusted even before a ball was kicked – but the Teranga Lions stunned the world with a first-ever African win over a side now riddled with petulant, over-paid players.

Venue: The City Ground, Nottingham.

Full Time Result: England 1 – 3 Senegal

61 bookmakers across the world, and every one of them predicted this scoreline but backwards – in favour of the English national team.

In camaraderie, thousands of African fans also placed mouth-watering bets against the Senegalese – only for Nicolas Jackson and co. to leave them with torn bet slips at the sound of the final whistle.

However, Senegal’s victory wasn’t down to errors or a series of fortuitous moments.

Instead, on Tuesday night, the men in green completely outmuscled and outfoxed a superstar team laden with talent and staff from England’s self-acclaimed  ‘Best League in the World’.

It was a resounding and long overdue victory; yet in times past, it hasn’t always been like this…

NOT SINCE THE DAYS OF ROGER MILLA 

African teams have historically struggled against European sides on the global football stage – especially during World Cup clashes where the golden trophy was mere games away.

Strangely enough – given their subjectively poor form on the international stage – it is against England that African nations have particularly struggled against.

The Three Lions had previously faced African teams on 21 occasions, winning 15 times, drawing six, and losing none.

Of those 21 teams, only a handful posed a real threat.

Tunisia were once minutes away from a 1-0 victory in a 1990 friendly encounter, but legendary Wolves forward Steve Bull equalised in the 89th minute to tie the game.

Cameroon were the next team to come close.

Led by then-38-year-old Roger-Milla, the Indomitable Lions utterly outplayed the English side and were six minutes away from a historic World Cup quarter-final win in Italia 90.

Seismic celebrations were already in Yaounde, but a brace of penalties from Gary Lineker ultimately sent the Cameroonians crashing home.

Cue heartbreak and a further 35-year stretch of English dominance over African football.

Indeed, the last time England were beaten (for the first time) by any country from a different continent was in 2003, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Australia.

Until Tuesday, football generations after another had passed, and no African team came close to breaking the jinx.

SENEGAL’S WIN A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

Following the win on England’s home soil, ex-Senegalese footballer El Hadji Diouf quickly reminded Jamie Carragher of his bad-mouthed comments on the AFCON.

In the first half alone, Senegal had six (6) shots on target  – more than any team had managed against the Three Lions since Brazil registered eight (8) in June 2013.

By contrast, England had only four (4) on target in the game.

With the hosts thoroughly outclassed in front of their supporters, Carragher was left red-faced in retrospect of his degrading comments over the quality of African football.

Perhaps this is a sign of things to come in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

While the Senegal team played with hearts on their sleeves, the Englishmen threw tantrums like spoilt brats whose lollipops had just been snatched from their hands.

The loss was Tuchel’s first since taking charge in October, after victories over international minnows Albania, Latvia, and Andorra.

Come 2026, if England and Tuchel do not get their acts together, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham may end up flooding London streets with tears.

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Ivo Okeke

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