JEDDAH, 17 June — Soccer fans in general and Africans in particular were all praise for Senegal for achieving a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sweden in yesterday’s World Cup encounter.
“Senegal have fired the Africans into the tournament’s quarterfinals and we’re proud of them,” Muhammad Ibrahim Abdo, a Jeddah-based Sudanese executive in a Ford dealership, said. “They’ve remained true to their giant-killer image and we agree with their coach Bruno Metsu that their victory over Sweden was not luck, but rather the birth of a great team,” he added.
In Riyadh, Hassan Abu Zainab, sports editor of Arriyadiah, said Senegal’s victory had confirmed their status as the new champion of African football. “They played very well against a stronger Swedish team. This is the second time that an African team has dethroned the giants of the game. In 1990, during the World Cup in Italy, Cameroon thrashed in the first round the then reigning champions Argentina led by Diego Maradona (1-0), thus projecting the real face of African soccer.”
Hassan said by beating the 2000 World Cup champions France and now Sweden, Senegal have demonstrated its power play in no uncertain terms. “I am optimistic that they will also emerge victorious against the winner of the match between Japan and Turkey.” Hassan paid tributes to Senegal’s attacker Henry Camara for scoring the golden goal in extra time. He said one of the factors responsible for Senegal’s sterling performance was the fact that most of them play for European clubs. This has honed their footballing skills.”
In the Eastern Province, soccer fans from Africa, Gulf and Asia rejoiced over Senegal’s victory. Saudis, still under the shock of the national team’s defeats, said Senegal are proving to be a pride of developing countries. “Senegal have challenged the might of Europe in soccer,” said Muhammad Somali, a purchase officer in a trading company in Dammam.
In Riyadh, Mehmood Laota, sports editor of Al-Eqtisadiah, said Senegal have emerged as a strong team following yesterday’s victory. “First, they beat France in the first round and drew with Denmark who were beaten 3-0 by England yesterday and also drew with Uruguay, who held the first World Cup in 1930.”
He said an important factor behind the success of Senegal was that 23 members of the squad play for various clubs in France. He quoted Senegalese attacker Diouf who said in a recent interview that they were a big family because all of them played in France and met every weekend in Paris. Coach Metsu is also French.
Laota said a decisive factor that worked to Senegal’s advantage was that they qualified from a strong group that includes Egypt and Morocco. This has given them a solid advantage and experience in terms of international exposure.
Although in Dammam and Alkhobar matches are no more viewed at public places after the defeat of Saudi national team in the first round, all Arabs, Asians and Africans rallied behind Senegal.
Abdul Aziz Faki, a Sudanese journalist of an Arabic daily, said that the Senegalese were more consistent than any Asian or African side. “Their defense is their strength and they’re quick to cash in on the mistakes of opponents.” He said the African team started as underdogs against France but were now a clear contender for the championship along with Brazil, Germany, England and Spain. He said the quality of their game was far superior to that of Spain and Germany and for sure they would give a tough fight to fancied Brazil and England.
Mousa Al-Turab, another Sudanese, said that Senegal had defied all predictions and analysis of the game. The side was tamed by almost all the qualifiers it played in pre-cup friendlies and now when it mattered they were forcing all international teams to go on the defensive. “This is exactly what happened in their encounter with France and it was repeated yesterday with Sweden,” he said.
Moqbil Al-Sayyari, Gulf editor of Arriyadiah newspaper said: “Senegal have a unique combination of attack and defense. It’s strong in both and the team will be a tough opponent in later stages of the tournament.” Al-Sayyari hoped that Senegal would reach the semifinals.
Abdullah Al-Jamaan, another Arabic journalist, said the national team as well as the national coach should take a lesson from the Senegal team. “With limited resources and generally underestimated, they have shown a strong appetite for goals and they possess a strong killer instinct, something the Saudi team lacked,” he said.
Fares Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi youth, said that the Senegalese had saved the lost pride of non-European and non-American countries. “South Korea, Japan and Senegal represent not merely their countries but all those who want the supremacy of Europe in soccer to end.”
In Jeddah, certain Africans and Asians were seen in a jubilant mood in areas like Makarona, Bani Malek and Mahjar. “The win makes debutants Senegal the first African side to reach the World Cup last eight since Cameroon in 1990. That makes their achievement all the more praiseworthy,” said Saeed Burhan, an Eritrean sales assistant in an electronics outlet in downtown Balad.
“It was a golden goal from Henri Camara that gave giant killers Senegal the victory. The manner in which he bagged his second goal of the match, dancing past the Swedish skipper, was remarkable and speaks volumes for his unmatched skills and the team’s overall performance,” said Ahmed Sadiq Ali, an electronics executive with a leading Western Province dealer.
“It was a match to watch. Senegal made a difficult start by conceding an early goal but after their equalizer they settled down. I am thinking about the Swedes, losing like that must be tough. They are a very rigorous side but they didn’t think of just defending. What’s really strange is Senegal had begun the match poorly and Sweden dominated the early play taking a deserved lead through Larsson’s header and yet they lost the crucial match,” he added.
— Javid Hassan in Riyadh, Saeed Haider in Dammam & K.S. Ramkumar in Jeddah
