Senegal Stuns England with 3-1 Victory in Friendly at City Ground
In a thrilling international friendly on Tuesday at Nottingham’s City Ground, Senegal’s Teranga Lions delivered a stunning 3-1 upset against England, marking their first-ever win over the Three Lions. Showcasing skill, speed, and tactical brilliance, the former African champions outplayed England on their home soil, adding a proud chapter to African football.
England struck first with an early goal from Harry Kane, but Senegal quickly seized control, dominating with purposeful attacks. Ismaïla Sarr levelled the score at 1-1, capitalising on a precise long ball to beat Jordan Henderson calmly. Soon after, another well-placed pass exposed England’s defence, allowing Habib Diarra to score from a tight angle, giving Senegal a 2-1 lead.
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England fought back, with substitutes Morgan Gibbs-White and Jude Bellingham injecting energy. Bellingham thought he had equalised, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a handball by Levi Colwill in the buildup, deflating England’s momentum. Senegal sealed the victory late with a devastating counter-attack. After England lost possession near Senegal’s goal, Lamine Camara raced forward and set up Youssouf Sabaly, who calmly slotted home for a 3-1 final score.
This triumph underscores the growing prowess of African teams on the global stage. From Cameroon’s 1990 upset over Argentina to Ghana’s near semi-final run in 2010 and Morocco’s 2022 World Cup heroics, African football continues to rise. For Senegal, who previously shocked France in 2002 and Poland in 2018, this friendly win over England is another bold step forward, cementing their status as a formidable force.
