Current African champions Senegal are tipped to raise the African flag at the upcoming FIFA World Cup and that’s a sentiment shared by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Haaland will be watching the global showpiece from home as his country, Norway didn’t qualify but he believes Senegal has what it takes to shine.
The Senegal side will be led by Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, but the team also boasts top players such as Sadio Mane of Bayern Munich and Everton’s Idrissa Gueye.
Managed by former Portsmouth star Aliou Cisse, the Lions of Teranga (Senegal) are still African kings after beating Egypt at his year’s African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
A hot property in the English Premier League so far, Haaland, has suggested England’s possible opponents Senegal are the African team to watch out for at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
While Ghana still boasts Africa’s best-ever finish with a quarter-final berth in 2010 in South Africa, they represent the continent together with Cameroon, Morocco, and Tunisia as the other African sides at Qatar 2022.
“I think Senegal will do really well,” Haaland said to SuperSport TV.
“They are a strong team and they have so many strong players, you know? So, I think Senegal will do the best out of those [African nations].”
Meanwhile, the West African, and Senegal are in Group A and will face the hosts Qatar, Netherlands, and Ecuador.
Taking a look at the group, many tip Cisse’s troops as favourites to join the Netherlands as teams that will qualify for the Last 16.
At the same time, former Black Stars defender and Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach John Paintsil believes his country can cause a shock under manager Otto Addo.
The Ghanaians are the lowest-ranked side at the World Cup – at 61st in the world – and will face Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay in Group H.
“My expectation for Ghana is very, very high,” Paintsil told BBC Sport Africa.
“Otto Addo and his staff know what they are looking for. The coaches must stand firm and believe in their abilities.
“Every coach should know his 1st XI at this time. The little time they will have with the boys, they will do their best to blend them and become one team.”
Main Image: Kalidou Koulibaly & Erling Haaland/TalkSPORT/TimesLIVE
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