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Senegal beat Poland to secure first African win at 2018 World Cup

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Senegal beat Poland at World Cup

The Teranga Lions of Senegal have broken the jinx of defeat on African teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup after they beat Poland 2-1 in their opening game in Group H at Spartak Stadium in Moscow on Tuesday.

With Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia having failed to win or even draw in their respective first matches in Russia, the Senegalese side put up a spirited fight to restore hope to the continent.

The Lions, coached by Aliou Cisse, kicked off their campaign with a bold contest and got ahead through a 37th-minute own goal by Thiago Cionek.

They doubled their lead when Grzegorz Krychowiak played a high back pass that striker M’Baye Niang controlled ahead of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before tapping into an empty net.

Read Also: 2018 World Cup: 10-man Colombia lose 1-2 to Japan

It was Niang’s first international goal.

Senegal thought they were going to have a clean-sheet win, but Poland increased their pace in the final minutes and were able to pull a goal back in the 86th minute with a Krychowiak header from Kamil Grosicki’s free-kick.

The Africans, making only their second World Cup appearance (after the 2002 finals), held on and came out on top ahead of Poland who are the highest-ranked side in Group H at number eight in the world.

The other group game between Colombia and Japan ended 2-1 in favour of Japan.

Senegal, joint group leaders, will continue their run for a round-of-16 spot when they face Colombia in their next game, while Poland battle Japan.

Poland

Grzegorz Krychowiak drew one back for Poland

 

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