Senegal Coach: It Won't Be a Surprise If We Beat France

Senegal's coach, Pape Thiaw, was part of the squad 24 years ago when his country famously upset France 1-0 at the 2002 World Cup. Now, he's poised to replicate that feat from the dugout as the two nations prepare for a highly anticipated rematch. Senegal kicks off their World Cup campaign against France tonight in Group I.

For Thiaw, the match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, represents a full-circle moment. “I will be on the bench, and that is special. I was on the bench in 2002 because I couldn't play, and tomorrow I will also be on the bench, but I will have a key role,” he told reporters.

Senegal, controversially denied the Africa Cup of Nations title earlier this year, is eager to prove they are the continent's true champions. African football continues to make its mark on the global stage, following Morocco's historic run to the semifinals four years ago.

“African football has changed a lot in recent years. We saw it at the last World Cup... it's no longer a surprise when we win. Is it a surprise if Senegal beats France? Well, no, because we have world-class players,” Thiaw stated.

Senegal has qualified for the last three World Cups, and Thiaw confirmed his team is fit and ready for action. He repeatedly sidestepped political questions during Monday's press conference, stating he preferred to “stick to sports.” However, politics proved almost impossible to ignore ahead of the match between Senegal and their former colonial rulers, as reported by Reuters.

Videos showing Senegalese players being screened by airport security in the US went viral earlier this month, prompting swift action from the country's football federation to quell accusations of discriminatory treatment. Additionally, Senegalese fans were reportedly denied visas for the tournament in the US last week, a consequence of President Donald Trump's travel restrictions. This led one reporter to question the fairness of the team playing without their supporters in the stands.

“Of course, we would like to have our fans; we know what they can do for us,” Thiaw said. “But we have a large Senegalese community in the US, and we know that Senegalese people are very patriotic... you will see that tomorrow. You won't even believe that no Senegalese person came from Senegal.”

Senegal faces France on Tuesday before taking on Norway and Iraq.