The Senegal national football team formed in 1960. The team affiliated to FIFA in 1962 and joined the Confederation of African Football in 1963. Senegal is one of the most popular and successful teams in Africa, and has been home to players such as Henri Camara and Demba Ba.
Senegal played their first competitive international in 1961. The team narrowly lost 4-3 to Dahomey (now Benin). Senegal’s record losing margin is four goals, a feat they have managed on eight occasions. The last of these was in 1995 and the team has almost managed two decades without adding a ninth. Senegal’s record winning margin is more impressive, set with a 7-0 victory over Mauritius in 2010.
World cup qualifying has long been a part of Senegal’s history. The team has entered qualifying since the 1970 world cup, although it has only appeared at one finals event. Ranked 74th by FIFA, the Senegal nation football team will expect to be much higher and need another world cup appearance to boost their profile.
World cup 2002
The 2002 world cup, held in South Korea and Japan, was Senegal’s first appearance at the finals. The team faced Denmark, defending champions France, and Uruguay in the first round group stage. In the opening game, and Senegal’s first world cup appearance, the team beat world champions France 1-0. Senegal followed this result with two draws, enough to take second in the group and advance to the next round.
The second round saw the Senegal national football team face Sweden. With the scores level at 1-1 after regular time, the game entered extra time. Henri Camara scored a golden goal in the 104th minute to take Senegal through.
The quarter finals pitted Senegal against Turkey. In another tight game, the score was again level at the end of ninety minutes. However, this time it was the opposition who scored a golden goal and sent the Africans home. Reaching the quarter finals was a tremendous achievement for Senegal, who became only the second African team to do so after Cameroon in 1990.
World cup 2018
Fixtures to be announced.
Find out more