Dutch Defender Ake Expresses Caution Ahead Of Senegal Match

Netherlands defender Nathan Ake says he anticipates a tough challenge from Senegal when the two teams face off in World Cup Group A opener on Monday.

The Oranje will face the African champions at Al Thumama Stadium in a match that marks the Dutch  return  to the global football showcase after shockingly failed to qualify four years ago.

Ahead of the clash, Ake lauded Senegal despite the West Africans going into the match without their instrumental forward Sadio Mane, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury.

“It’s going to be very tough,” he told a news conference.

“Senegal has good players and very strong strikers, even without Mane. Missing the World Cup due to an injury is very annoying, not only for him.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”But we still have to prepare for a very tough job, because Senegal remains very strong. We’ve analysed them well.”[/perfectpullquote]

Netherlands and Senegal have never played one another before and as things stand, the Dutch are the clear favourites to win with the bookmakers.