IT had been a long time coming. Senegal hadn’t been to a World Cup since 2002, Poland not since 2006. In front of their expectant fans here at the Spartak Stadium, so many of whom have waited such a long time for their teams to return to world football’s grandest stage, they had a point to prove.

Almost a generation has passed for Senegal since their maiden World Cup appearance. Aliou Cisse, their captain back in Korea-Japan when their sensational run took them to the quarter-finals, is now their coach. Same is the case with Poland. Only second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski remains from the side that went to Germany and failed to go past the group stage.

Greater optimism surrounds Poland this time around. On the eve of the match, coach Adam Nawalka was confident enough to declare his side would win their opening game. Instead, Senegal became the first African team to win at this World Cup. In a World Cup that has just torn the script apart, Senegal overcame their much higher-ranked opponents 2-1 to throw Group ‘H’ wide open after Japan’s victory over Colombia earlier in the day.

In a match that was billed as a clash between Poland hotshot Robert Lewandowski and Senegal star Sadio Mane, neither of two, however, could really impose themselves in an underwhelming start where passes went astray, moves broke down as soon as they began. Keeping possession was difficult for both teams. Lewandowski barely had a sniff. Mane, playing wide on the left, couldn’t barge his way through.

The Senegal goal came on a quick break. Youssouf Sabaly released Mane and the Liverpool star picked out Idrissa Gueye whose shot took a massive deflection off Thiago Cionek that wrong-footed Wojciech Szczesny and went in seven minutes before half-time.

Poland started the second-half with more purpose, Lewandowski saw a free-kick saved early on. But it was Senegal who would score on the hour mark. Grzegorz Krychowiack, coming to the World Cup after a woeful season at West Bromwich Albion, endured more misery. His mishit pass to his defence only landed on the feet of Mbaye Niang and the Senegalese forward took a touch to take out Szczesny before stroking the ball in and seal all three points.

Senegal could’ve sat back and defended their lead but such was the belief that they poured forward in search for a third. Ismaila Sarr had loud appeals for a penalty turned down and four minutes from time, Poland pulled one back; Krychowiak making amends for his earlier aberration with a brilliant header buried in the far corner from a free-kick.

The goal reinvigorated Poland. But Senegal held on in a performance was such that would’ve made their late coach Bruno Metsu proud. Such was Senegal’s connection with Metsu that the Frenchman’s burial took place in Dakar, the country’s capital. Metsu was the man who masterminded Senegal’s 2002 World Cup campaign. Back then, they also started with a victory.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2018