Not only was Dr Nyaho Tamkloe alone shocked by Senegal’s performance, but everyone who watched it, especially all the countries that are preparing for the 2025 AFCON to be played in Morocco across December 2025 and January 2026.
Senegal’s 3-1 win over the Three Lions of England was historic as they became the first team from the continent to ever record a victory against the Europeans. England had already gone 21 games against African nations without a defeat, and Senegal’s victory has shocked them.
The City Ground in Nottingham witnessed a shocking performance from Thomas Tuchel’s side. Truthfully, England has been abysmal since the former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was confirmed as the permanent replacement for Gareth Southgate. The Three Lions had won 8 and lost only once since they lost in the finals of the European Championship in Germany to Spain.
They have played against Grade C and D teams, and Senegal’s game was an ultimate test. Senegal remains one of the most formidable and well-organised sides in Africa after having not tasted any defeat since losing on penalties to the 2023 AFCON hosts and winners, Ivory Coast. It has been 17 months since Senegal last tasted any defeat. The last time any team beat Senegal in 90 minutes was a friendly game defeat to Algeria in September 2023, when Feras Chaibi scored the only goal in the second half.
Lions of Terranga are a dangerous side, and whoever underrates them will be in trouble. Under Aliou Cisse, the West Africans were destroyed 3-0 by Southgate’s charges in the Round of 16 of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
England under Tuchel has struggled against Albania, Latvia and Andorra, although they have beaten them all to take a commanding lead in Group K of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, so they were going to struggle against a team that boasts experienced players like Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Krepin Diatta, Iddrisa Gueye, and Ismaila Sarr. The young and energetic ones like Lamine Camara, Illiman Ndiaye and Nicholas Jackson need no introduction to lovers of European football as they are extremely good.
Nyaho Tamakloe’s comments on Asempa FM,
“The Black Stars will need cohesion before the World Cup; otherwise, the team will struggle at the tournament should we qualify.
“I watched Senegal against England, and I couldn’t believe their performance. And I asked myself, could we put up such a performance? Senegal fielded local players, and can we also do that? So we need to sit up and get things right before the tournament starts,” he added.
Dr Nyaho Tamakloe is one of the experienced football brains in Ghana, having followed the game for nearly 6 decades. The veteran football administrator and politician was shocked by Senegal’s performances at the City Ground.
Pape Thiaw, who replaced Aliou Cisse after the 2023 AFCON, has maintained the core of the team and has been steadily making changes. The system is there for him to follow after the country has dominated youth football on the continent for nearly a decade.
Senegal now can boast of wins against superpowers like France (2002 World Cup), Brazil (2023 International Friendly) and England (2025 International Friendly).
Ghana did not qualify for the 2025 AFCON after failing to record a single win in the six games played against Angola, Sudan and Niger. During rounds 5 and 6 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Otto Addo’s men smashed Chad and Madagascar to jump to the top of Group I. These are opponents that are nowhere near Ghana, but you can’t complain much because the dream is to qualify for the USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup.
Ghana will need to play as a team, like Senegal did in England. After going behind to Harry Kane’s 7th-minute poachers finish after Mendy had spilt Anthony Gordon’s shot, the question was, ‘How will Senegal cope with the early distraction?’
Pape Thiaw’s side reorganised themselves after surviving a scare from Gordon, who failed to tap in Walker’s pinpoint accurate cross. Gueye nearly levelled things for Senegal in the 36th minute.
Senegal’s aggression and pace in the attack were scary, as a neat pass from Chelsea’s Jackson was finished by Crystal Palace’s Sarr. A decent long ball from skipper Koulibaly was beautifully controlled by Strasbourg’s Habib Diarra, whose close-range finish made it 2-1. Gibbs White and Saka came close to scoring, but Mendy showed them why he was once the best goalkeeper in Europe with some crucial saves to keep their lead.
French referee Frappart in the 85th minute consulted the VAR about Bellingham’s goal, where she adjudged that Levi Colwill had intentionally handled the ball in the build-up to the goal.
The energy on Senegal’s side was immeasurable as midfielder Lamin Camara’s run and beautiful pass was finished by FC Metz midfielder Cheikh Sabaly to make it 3-1 in the 93rd minute. The West Africans’ counter-attacking football hurt England as they failed to find an antidote to it.
Senegal is laden with experienced, tried and tested players across every department of their team. Besides, their players are ready and willing to defend the colours of the country, as they demonstrated against England.
Ghana can play like Senegal or even better than them because they have the materials but lack almost all the elements to reach that level.
Discussion about this post