Ecuador 1-2 Senegal: Teranga Lions match Nigeria, Ghana World Cup Record
Become third African nation to reach the knockout round in more than one edition of the tournament
The Teranga Lions of Senegal have not only become the first African country to qualify for the knockout phase of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar but have also matched a record set by the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana.
Senegal have sealed their place in the World Cup last 16 after beating Ecuador 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Kalidou Koulibaly’s excellent volley 20 minutes from time clinched a vital win in this winner-takes-all encounter in Group A.
It means that they leapfrog Ecuador into second place, finishing on six points behind the Netherlands.
The feat has made Senegal only the third African team to reach the World Cup knockout phase in at least two different editions, after Nigeria (1994, 1998 and 2014) and Ghana (2006 and 2010).
The Teranga Lions also matched a feat set by the indomitable Lions of Cameroun with their win over Ecuador.
The West African nation has now become the first African nation to beat a South American side at the FIFA World Cup since Cameroon defeated Colombia 2-1 after extra time in a round of 16 tie played at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples in 1990, ending a 21-game winless run.
