Senegal Makes History as First African Team to Defeat England with 3-1 Victory

Nottingham — In a friendly encounter at the City Ground, Senegal defeated England 3-1, thanks to goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly, making history as the first African side to overcome England in 22 attempts. Senegal’s winning streak now stands at 24 games, while England suffered its first defeat in four games under new manager Thomas Tuchel, which saw Jude Bellingham’s late goal being disallowed for a handball in the build-up.

“Not good enough,” was the verdict from captain Harry Kane, speaking to ITV. “We had our moments, but things aren’t clicking both with and without the ball. We’re missing the right tempo and have lost that aggressive nature we once had.”

In the 40th minute, Sarr took advantage of a critical error by Kyle Walker, who misjudged a defensive clearance, allowing Sarr to expertly poke in a cross from Nicolas Jackson. This crucial goal not only equalized the match but also shifted the momentum in favor of Senegal just before halftime.Then, in the 62nd minute, Diarra showcased his keen awareness by intercepting a long ball headed towards the English defense. With a deft touch and impressive composure, he slotted the ball past goalkeeper Dean Henderson, extending Senegal’s lead to two goals.

As the match progressed, the atmosphere grew tense, with England’s supporters expressing their frustration through jeers as the final whistle neared. However, in a moment of brilliance, Sabaly struck late in stoppage time, delivering a powerful shot that found the back of the net. This decisive goal firmly sealed the victory for Senegal, leaving the England team and their fans in stunned silence.

“We’re not panicking, but we know there’s room for improvement,” Kane remarked after the match. “There are no excuses, but it’s a combination of variables, including new players joining the club, some of whom lack international experience.

Gordon missed a golden opportunity to double England’s lead in the first half by mishitting Walker’s cross from close range. Mendy also made a crucial late save against Bukayo Saka that would have equalized the match before Senegal sealed their win with a third goal.

“Disappointing result; not sure if we maybe deserved a better result,” Tuchel admitted. “At times, we seemed a bit frozen and not active enough. We gave away the first two goals too easily and needed to defend better. After going down, we responded well—becoming more active, fluid, and aggressive towards the opponent’s goal. We created significant chances to equalize.”