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.



Alcaraz Crowned King of Queen's for Second Time

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025. EPA/ANDY RAIN
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Alcaraz Crowned King of Queen's for Second Time

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025.  EPA/ANDY RAIN
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with his trophy after winning against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during their final match at the Queen's Club Championships tennis tournament in London, Britain, 22 June 2025. EPA/ANDY RAIN

Carlos Alcaraz clinched his second Queen's Club title as the world number two warmed up for Wimbledon with a 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 win against Jiri Lehecka in Sunday's final.

Alcaraz blasted 33 winners and 18 aces to subdue the gritty Czech world number 30 in two hours and 10 minutes in west London.

Having won titles on clay at the French Open, Rome and Monte Carlo, as well as the hard courts of Rotterdam, Alcaraz has now collected five trophies in 2025.

The 22-year-old has not lost since the Barcelona final against Holger Rune on April 20 and is enjoying the longest winning streak of his career with 18 successive victories, AFP reported.

Top seeded Alcaraz is just the second Spanish man to win Queen's twice after Feliciano Lopez, who lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2019.

"I'm happy to lift this trophy once again. It's a nightmare to play against Jiri, but it's been an incredible week," Alcaraz said.

"I came without expectations. I just wanted to play good tennis and get used to the grass.

"It's really special playing here every year. I can't wait to come back next year."

For a player raised on the clay courts of Spain, Alcaraz has developed into a formidable force on grass.

The former world number one signalled his emergence on the surface by winning Queen's in 2023.

He clinched the Wimbledon title for the first time just weeks later and defended his All England Club crown last year.

Alcaraz, who has an 11-1 career record at Queen's, will start his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title on June 30.

After his semi-final win over Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday, Alcaraz fired an ominous message to his Wimbledon rivals, warning that his "grass-court mode" had been activated.

And on the evidence of his relentless display against the obdurate Lehecka, he is in no mood to surrender his All England Club crown.

Playing his first tournament since his epic French Open victory against Jannik Sinner two weeks ago, Alcaraz's march to the Queen's showpiece made it five consecutive finals for the Spaniard.

In contrast, Lehecka was playing in his first grass-court final after a shock win against British star Jack Draper in the last four.

The 23-year-old was the first Czech in the Queen's final since Ivan Lendl in 1990.

Lehecka had come from a set down to stun Alcaraz in the Qatar Open quarter-finals in February.

But there would be no repeat of that upset on the lawns of Barons Court.

In his second Queen's final, Alcaraz had an early chance to break in the fifth game of the first set.

Lehecka thundered down an ace to get out of trouble of that occasion.

But the five-time Grand Slam champion matched Lehecka's serve blow for blow, dropping just one point in his first four service games.

Alcaraz's piercing ground-strokes increased the pressure and Lehecka finally cracked in the the 11th game when an badly-timed double-fault gifted the first break to the Spaniard.

Alcaraz served out the set in typically ruthless fashion, but Lehecka refused to surrender without a fight.

A tight second set stayed on serve all the way through to the tie-break and, for once, Alcaraz stumbled with a key double-fault, allowing Lehecka to level the match.

Alcaraz was unfazed, breaking for a 3-1 lead in the deciding set when Lehecka netted an off-balance forehand.

Alcaraz had the finish line in sight and he wrapped up his latest title triumph with a flurry of searing winners.