Senegal made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first African team to beat England in 22 games, with a thrilling 3-1 comeback win at the City Ground in Nottingham.
The visitors, led by coach Pape Thiaw, showed impressive skill and determination to claim the victory.
England initially took the lead through captain Harry Kane’s early goal, which came after Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy spilled Anthony Gordon’s shot.
However, Senegal regrouped and took control of the match, with Ismaila Sarr equalizing just before halftime. Sarr’s header, powered into the net from a tight angle, marked a turning point in the game.
After the restart, Senegal continued to dominate, and Habib Diarra’s goal shortly after the hour mark further solidified their lead.
Diarra’s clinical finish, which went through Dean Henderson’s legs, left the England goalkeeper with no chance.
Despite England’s late pressure, Mendy made crucial saves to preserve Senegal’s lead, including a stunning stop from Bukayo Saka.
A late England goal was disallowed for handball, and Senegal sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal from Cheikh Sabaly, who calmly finished a counter-attack.
The victory marked Senegal’s first-ever win over England and ended the Three Lions’ 21-match unbeaten record against African teams.
This win also stretched Senegal’s unbeaten streak to a certain number of games, with their last loss dating back to January 2024, when they were beaten on penalties by Ivory Coast at the Afcon last-16 stage.
