In the draw for the 2022 World Cup, this Friday, April 1, the Senegalese African champions inherited Group A with Qatar, host country, the Netherlands and Ecuador. A chicken ” opened ” according to the president of the Senegalese Football Federation, Augustin Senghor, who hopes that Senegal will rise ” for the first time in the semi-finals “.
RFI : Senegal placed in Group A with Qatar, the Netherlands and Ecuador. How would you rate this hen?
Augustin Senghor : It’s really the most heterogeneous group: a European selection, a South American and one from the Asian confederation. It will be very open, balanced and interesting. These are varied footballs.
The Netherlands is a great selection from Europe which shines less than in the past but which must be respected for what it represents. The host country is never easy, even if it’s Qatar. Finally, Ecuador is the typical South American football, difficult to play, eye-catching. All this offers us an explosive cocktail. But we were ready to face everyone, so no matter the opponents, the main thing is to qualify for the second round.
From Senegal ?? to Qatar ?? via Ecuador ?? and Holland ??.
Shoulders to shoulders, my more than brothers… Destination the stars ✨ pic.twitter.com/rkDWvGQQav
— Abdou-lakhad Diallo (@Abdou_diallo_) April 1, 2022
How will you be going to Qatar in November? ?
We charged the batteries in terms of confidence after this very good start to the year.
Africa wants to show what it is worth to the world. We hope to be this locomotive of African football and reach the semi-finals for the first time.
The main thing for the continent will be to place as many teams as possible in the second round. Africa can have a say because the gap between different nations and confederations is narrowing. Above all, we see the emergence of certain African teams and African talents that give us hope that the gap is closing at high speed.
So you think Senegal ready to become the first African selection to reach the last four of a World Cup? ?
This group has grown together, and another important fact, we have two World Cups in a row for the first time [le Sénégal participe à sa troisième phase finale après 2002 et 2018, ndlr]. Most of the team will have had this experience. We can therefore consider that we will arrive with weapons that will help us to go far.
We have made progress, we have a good group that has a common experience, our players play in major leagues and major clubs and play regularly. We must have this ambition while keeping our humility because we will first have to get out of the pools. The first two games [contre les Pays-Bas en ouverture puis le Qatar, ndlr] will be important. It will be up to us.