Senegal and Japan played out an entertaining 2-2 draw on Sunday night to ensure that things will go down to the last day in Group H for both sides.
The Lions of Teranga took the lead in the 11th minute through Sadio Mane after Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima’s poor clearance ricocheted off the Liverpool FC forward and sailed into the back of the net.
Takashi Inui equalised for the Blue Samurai in the 34th minute with curling low strike beating goalkeeper Khadim N’Diaye at the right post.
Moussa Wagué made it 2-1 for Senegal with 20 minutes remaining when he met a ball played across the box and coolly side footed into the roof of the net for his first international goal.
Keisuke Honda who came in as a substitute late in the second half got the Akira Nishino’s charges back into the match seven minutes later with a strike into a gaping net after the Lions of Teranga’s defence failed to deal with a cross into the box.
In this feature, we rate and review the performances of the Lions of Teranga to see who impressed and who did not.
Khadim Ndiaye 7/10
Ndiaye was quick in recycling possession and made a couple of saves. Unfortunately, he could not do anything more for both the goals conceded.
Kalidou Koulibaly (6/10)
Dealt reasonably well with the fluid front three of Blue Samurais and was a good outlet going forward. Pulled off some good last-ditch blocks and clearances but was not one of the game’s better performers.
Salif Sané 7/10
The rock. Was impregnable at the back, and showed his intelligence by frequently surging forward in the first half to advance the ball into the front line. His decision-making and technical prowess are a marvel.
Alfred N’Diaye 5/10
Not his usual swashbuckling self. He came off early in the second half having been unable to make much impact at all.
Youssouf Sabaly 6/10
Looks more and more comfortable within a settled backline, and he gave the most nerveless performance of his international career. Was a bit careless with his distribution in the second half.
Moussa Wagué 7/10
Wagué impressed with his effective link-up play and holding up the ball against the strength of Hasebe and Osako. Took the goal very well, and went on a number of threatening runs at the heart of the Japanese defence.
Idrissa Gueye 6/10
Those legs were made for running, and that’s what Gueye offered in abundance. His pairing with Sarr gave no quarters, and was crucial in coping with pace of the Japanese.
Badou N’Diaye 6/10
Was once again good with his deliveries and roamed a bit more than he did against Poland. Overall a strong performance from the Stoke City man. But was replaced by Cheikh N’Doye after 81 minutes.
Sadio Mané 8/10
The spark. Whenever he had the ball at his feet in attack, the entire team came alive. Probably his side’s best player. Took his goal superbly well and was always in the right place for passes. Not his fault that his teammates could not always find him.
Ismaïla Sarr 7/10
Always keen for a shot from range, but had the wrong boots on and did not come close. Started quite a few attacks dropping off the midfield, but did not make much impact with his passing.
M’Baye Niang 6/10
Had a good opening in the second period and worked hard throughout but at times lacked the quality to find the right pass. Replaced by Mame Biram Diouf after 86 minutes.
Substitutes
Cheikhou Kouyaté 6/10
He injected pace in Lions of Teranga’s tiring midfield and could have got a goal straightaway but narrowly missed to get to the end of Niang’s low cross. He was solid defensively and offered width on the right whenever necessary.
Cheikh N’Doye 5/10
Pulled all the right strings in the middle of the park, and offered protection to the back four. He was also effective going forward.
Mame Biram Diouf 4/10
Didn’t do much after coming on late, but looked good every time on the ball.
