Lions of Teranga Dominate 3-1 in Friendly, Extending Unbeaten Run to 24 Games
Nottingham, England – Senegal shattered a 22-match jinx on Tuesday night, becoming the first African team ever to defeat England in a stunning 3-1 victory at the City Ground. Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly sealed a historic win for the African champions, further cementing their status as one of the continent’s strongest sides.
The triumph extends Senegal’s unbeaten streak to an impressive 24 games, while England’s lackluster performance under new manager Thomas Tuchel left captain Harry Kane admitting his side was “not good enough.”
A Night of Firsts for Senegal
Despite falling behind early to Kane’s seventh-minute strike—a rebound after goalkeeper Edouard Mendy spilled Anthony Gordon’s shot—Senegal responded with composure. Sarr capitalized on a defensive lapse from Kyle Walker to level before halftime, and Diarra punished England again in the 62nd minute with a cool finish through Dean Henderson’s legs. Sabaly’s stoppage-time goal capped off a dominant display, leaving England fans booing at full-time.
“We knew we could make history tonight,” said Senegal coach Aliou Cissé. “This team has belief, and we showed that against one of the best.”
England’s Struggles Continue
The Three Lions, who made 10 changes from their unconvincing 1-0 win over Andorra, looked disjointed throughout. Gordon wasted a golden chance to double their lead in the first half, while defensive errors proved costly. Even a late push for an equalizer fell short, with Bukayo Saka denied by Mendy before Senegal sealed their historic win.
“Not good enough,” Kane said bluntly. “We’ve lost our aggression, our sharpness. We have to fix it fast.”
Tuchel, suffering his first defeat as England boss, acknowledged the performance was lacking. “We were too passive, too slow,” he admitted. “Senegal deserved this victory.”
For Senegal, the win is a landmark moment in African football. For England, it’s a wake-up call with the World Cup looming.
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