AfriPulse
By Eniola Olatunji
Former two times world senior men’s football champions, Les Bleues of France on Tuesday at the New York, New Jersey Stadium caged the Taranga Lions of Senegal in a group I opener with a superlative 3-1 victory.
Sleekly Kylian Mbappe got a brace for France breaking the deadlock in the 66th minute through an assist from Nigeria’s Michael Olise playing in France shirt who combined wonderfully well with Mbappe in the first half enabling Mbappe run rings around Senegalese Defender, Koulibali. The opening goal was five minutes after VAR denied France a penalty after Mbappe was fouled in the box.
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Mbappe scored his 58th international goal for France from a blast of a shot that almost tore the net, 30 metres away from goal in stoppage time of 90+6th minute that beat goalkeeper Mende flatly. It was a minute after France conceded her goal.
Cover photo is Kylian Mbappe grinning like a school boy on getting his brace in New York on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Mbaye had gotten a thorough pass from ILiman Nsiaye in the 90+5th minute to record Senegal’s only goal.
Two minutes after African football followers favorite, Dembele who had been attacking partner to Mbappe at Paris St Germaine PSG was pulled out in the 80th minute for Bradley Barcola, Brad for short got a pass from Andrien Rabiot to score the 2nd goal for France.
Senegal scared France from the onset when she got a corner kick conceded by Theo Fernandez in the 2nd minute and Isnaila Sarr should have scored two nail bitting chances in the first half. Sarr had 3 shots at goal more than the entire France team had in the first half but threw them away.
France taught Senegal that to be a former champion twice no be Wasa (slang for playing to relax from the military in Nigeria) as the team upgraded in the second half to avoid an embarrassing outing that made Senegal shock them at the group A opening match of the Korea/Japan 2002 world cup.
Then, France as defending champions having won the title in 1998 on home ground and 2018 filed out in 1st June 2002 at the Seoul World Cup stadium where Papa Bouba Diop stunned France in the 30th minute from El-Hadji Diouf assist.
From my library, two yellow cards went to Emmanuel Petit (meaning Small but not small in stature) in the 45th minute and Aliou Cisse. France dominated play with 64 to 36% play.
That was a bad year for France that ended at the group bottom after Denmark, Senegal and Uruguay in that order. Senegal defeated Sweden in R16 2-1 but lost to Turkey by a lone goal which has been their best performances till date.
France ranked 3rd in the world stepped out today with their 17th appearances at the mundial as favorite to make their 3rd title having won it in 1998 and 2918; bagged Silver in 2006 and 2022; Bronze in 1958 and1986 while being 4th in 1982.
Senegal ranked 15th in the world coming as current African champions whose title was arguably stripped via social media made their 4th appearances at the mundial with a quarter final placing highest performance.
Later at midnight of Tuesday, Norway will tackle Iraq in the other Group I game but on Monday, France will take on Iraq and Senegal will play redemption song against Norway or fly back to Dakar in the way they made France return to Patis early in 2002.
The Bafana Bafana of South Africa who lost their first group match and went weeping like babies claiming that the rest of Africa stood against them will play their second match on Thursday. We report that the country from the home front is crumbling under the Xenophobic attack of their citizens that has crippled their economy and we are not sure whether the country has won a move to appease their fellow Africans for support at the mundial.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#2026WorldCup #Eufa #CAF
#FFF #FSF #NFF
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