The importance of the instance did escape Kalidou Koulibaly and his touching character did not either. Two years after the death of Papa Bouba Diop at the age of 42, his successors in the Senegal shirt have venerated the midfielder’s reminiscence in ultimate beauty. Incidentally, the classification to the second round and a montage with England to the detriment of Ecuador.
Koulibaly ready for the Group A decider watching videos of Bouba Diop at his best. Senegal’s captain shaped it with his first foreign goal, sending the Africa Cup of Nations champions and Ecuador with a winner 150 seconds after Moises Caicedo’s equaliser threatened to fail. Things around
Bouba Diop, or “The Wardrobe” as he called it, kicked off Senegal’s run into the 2002 quarterfinals with an outstanding winner against France for a team with current coach Aliou Cissé. Cissé’s team can imagine a replay thanks to a calm and tough victory over Ecuador and a timely contribution from their captain.
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“We knew it was one of the most vital games of our careers,” said the Chelsea defender, who wore a ’19’ on his armband in tribute to the former Fulham and Portsmouth midfielder. “The anniversary of Dad’s death was vital for us and his circle of family. We wanted to make him proud and pay tribute to him. It made me dream when I was little. He watched the videos his circle of relatives posted of him.
Ecuador had played with freedom and creativity in their first two matches to finish with a draw. And maybe that’s your problem. Here, Gustavo Alfaro’s team had something to lose, and dynamism could not be discovered under the pressure of protecting what they had. Senegal, knowing they needed to win, were uninhibited.
Against a backdrop of relentless drums from Senegalese fans, who put almost as much effort into each function as the players, Cissé’s team controlled the first half. They were in front within 3 minutes when Idrissa Gueye found himself goalless in front of it after Boulaye Dia and Iliman Ndiaye allowed Ismaila Sarr’s cross to roll down the court to midfield. The Everton player’s first shot was deflected a few centimeters. It was his 100th match.
Despite the importance of an inviolate cage for Ecuador, there was a lack of concentration in their defense at all times, and charged them dearly just before halftime. Right back Angelo Preciado and centre-back Felix Torres misjudged the launch of a ball out. of the Senegalese defence. Sarr read perfectly, beating Torres on the left and tapping inside the box before being hit in a clumsy challenge from centre-back Piero Hincapié.
French referee Clement Turpin pointed to the point and Sarr, who had missed his last two consequences at club level, with a bit of luck stroked it in the bottom left corner with Ecuadorian goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez nailed to his line.
Ecuador demanded a change of mentality and technique at the time and their Argentine coach responded with a double change at half-time. The arrival of José Cifuentes and Jeremy Sarmiento from Brighton led to an early improvement and, for the first time, Senegal behind. foot for a long time. Edouard Mendy had nothing to do before taking the ball out of his net.
The draw infuriated Cissé when his team went into the corner. Gonzalo Plata’s shot greeted by Torres’ blond header and fell on Caicedo, unmarked and held by Youssouf Sabaly on the goal line to the opposite post. The Brighton midfielder concealed an undeniable finish and the Senegalese drums fell silent. But they rang again in two minutes.
Caicedo’s moment of triumph momentarily turned into depression when Gueye threw a free-kick into a crowded area. The ball hit the Ecuadorian striker on the thigh and made a noose for Koulibaly to repair Senegal’s valuable lead with a point-blank volley.
Sarmiento led Ecuador’s reaction impressively, but there was also desperation in his quest for a moment of the tie. Enner Valencia, co-top scorer of the tournament with Kylian Mbappe, did not have the opportunity to add to his 3 goals in Qatar. Senegal defended superbly in the finals before heading to the knockout stages to the sound of drums. Ecuador came out crying. Galíndez had to be helped to his knees through two crew members backstage. An education bib over Caicedo’s head couldn’t hide his sobs.