What Next for African Champ Senegal after World Cup Exit?

Senegal's players stand on the pitch disappointed after losing the World Cup round of 16 match between England and Senegal, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP)
Senegal's players stand on the pitch disappointed after losing the World Cup round of 16 match between England and Senegal, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP)
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What Next for African Champ Senegal after World Cup Exit?

Senegal's players stand on the pitch disappointed after losing the World Cup round of 16 match between England and Senegal, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP)
Senegal's players stand on the pitch disappointed after losing the World Cup round of 16 match between England and Senegal, at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP)

African champion Senegal was outplayed by England and given a reality check as it was eliminated in the last 16 at the World Cup.

Senegal was missing its best player in Sadio Mane through injury and was also hampered by the absence of other key players against England, but still held hopes of launching a strong challenge in its first World Cup knockout game in 20 years. The 3-0 loss was a bitter end to a disappointing campaign for Africa's top-ranked team.

Expectation vs. performance

Senegal was rated the best team from Africa to ever go to a World Cup and came to Qatar with a squad full of Europe-based talent. Senegal won its first major title at the African Cup of Nations in February and that boosted confidence for the World Cup campaign. Matching its run to the quarterfinals on its World Cup debut in 2002 was the target.

Senegal lost its opening group game 2-0 to the Netherlands but beat host Qatar and a dangerous Ecuador team to reach the last 16.

But Senegal's recent success has been largely driven by Mane, his country's all-time leading scorer. He was ruled out of the World Cup days before it started with a right leg injury and his absence undoubtedly affected the team's chances against England.

Even without Mane, Senegal was still expected to present a much tougher challenge for 2018 semifinalist England than it did at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday. The lopsided result underscored a significant gap that remains between African football’s continental tournament and the World Cup, coach Aliou Cisse said.

“What’s true at the African Cup of Nations isn’t necessarily true at the World Cup because of the caliber of the teams," Cisse said. "You pay for any mistake that you make.”

Who’s out?

Coach Cisse could be the first to leave. The former Senegal captain, who memorably led his country to the quarterfinals as a player in 2002, is contracted until 2024 but said in the aftermath of the England defeat that he'd have to reconsider how much longer he will stay.

Cisse has been present for every one of Senegal's three appearances at the World Cup; as captain in 2002 and coach in 2018 and this year. Senegal was eliminated in the group stage four years ago so Cisse the coach hasn't managed to repeat the success he had as captain 20 years ago.

Cisse, who has been Senegal coach for seven years, said after the England game that he needed time to “draw the lessons from this defeat.”

Senegal could also lose the spine of its team before the next World Cup, with captain Kalidou Koulibaly (31 years old), goalkeeper Edouard Mendy (30), midfielder Idrissa Gueye (33) and Mane (30) all in or approaching their mid-30s in 2026.

Mane may well still be around for the next World Cup but four years is a long time to maintain a reputation as one of the game's most feared forwards. His injury just before Qatar meant he missed out on a World Cup while at his peak.

Who’s next?

Ismaila Sarr is seen as the player to take Senegal into the future. The 24-year-old forward enhanced his reputation in Qatar by shouldering much of the responsibility up front in the absence of Mane.

Midfielders Krepin Diatta of Monaco, who is 23, and Pape Matar Sarr of Tottenham, who is just 20, should also emerge as important players.

What’s next?

Senegal's first focus after the World Cup is to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in 2024 and ensure it has a chance at retaining its title. Qualifying resumes in March and the tournament in Ivory Coast will give Senegal its next opportunity to develop a team capable of doing better on the biggest stage in 2026.

“We’ve been working hard to reach this level and to be African champions, and now Senegal have to continue working to ensure at the next World Cup we can play better,” Cisse said.



Man United Needs Near Perfect End to Season to Avoid its Worst Premier League Points Total


Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Mike Egerton/P via AP)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Mike Egerton/P via AP)
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Man United Needs Near Perfect End to Season to Avoid its Worst Premier League Points Total


Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Mike Egerton/P via AP)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at the City Ground, Nottingham, England, Tuesday, April 1, 2025. (Mike Egerton/P via AP)

Manchester United needs to win seven of its eight remaining Premier League games this season just to match its worst-ever points total in the modern era.

That's how bad it's got for the record 20-time English champion in a crisis-hit campaign.

“We have to get it right fast,” head coach Ruben Amorim said after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.

United’s lowest points total since the Premier League began in 1992 was 58 in the 2021-22 season. It is currently on 37, with 24 more points to play for, The AP news reported.

Seven wins would give Amorim’s team the 21 points needed to reach 58.

To put that in context, United has not won back-to-back games in the league all season. The last time it managed that was in the final two games of the previous campaign.

Amorim, meanwhile, has only won six and lost nine of his 19 league games since taking over in November. United has won 10 in total.

New lows The loss to Forest was United's 13th in the league this term. Last year's total of 14 defeats was the club's worst in the Premier League era.

Amorim said in January that this might be the worst team in United's history and things have only got worse since then.

While there is little danger this season of one of the world's most storied teams being relegated from the top flight for the first time since 1974, it will almost certainly hit new lows in the modern era.

United's lowest league position in the Premier League was the eighth-place finish overseen by former manager Erik ten Hag last year. It seems unlikely Amorim will be able to better that, with his team eight points below eighth-place Fulham.

Based on form, the likelier scenario is United finishes the season even lower than it already is, with Tottenham, Everton and West Ham all within touching distance.

Years of decline This season continues United's onfield decline since managerial great Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after winning the club's last league title.

It was his and United's 13th championship of the first 20 years of the Premier League. The club hasn't won another since.

Its lowest finish in the Premier League under Ferguson was third.

Goal drought Among United's many problems this season have been a lack of goals. The Forest game was the 11th time it has failed to score in the league - prompting a desperate Amorim to play center back Harry Maguire in attack as he went in search of a late equalizer.

Maguire came closer than any of his teammates to scoring when seeing a stoppage time effort cleared off the line.

“We deserved more in this game, that is clear, but it was our fault. We need to be better in the last third," Amorim said.

Rasmus Hojlund, a striker signed from Atalanta for $82 million last season, has only scored eight goals in his 41 games in all competitions this term.

Strike partner Joshua Zirkzee has scored six in 45 appearances. United has scored 37 in the league all season with a goal difference of minus-4.

Amorim, however, insists he sees improvement.

“I don’t lie to myself," he said. "Everybody can say whatever they want to say, I see some things, but we need to win games.”