Senegal become first African team to qualify for knockout round

Senegal have edged out Ecuador with a tight 2-1 victory to become the first African team to qualify for the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in second place at the expense of the South Americans.

Kalidou Koulibaly became the hero for the African champions, netting a spectacular winner, a volley that came barely three minutes after Ecuador had scored the equaliser.

Aware that they needed a win to advance to the first knockoud round, the Teranga Lions of Senegal scored the opener off a Ismaila Sarr’s composed penalty.

But Senegal seemed to be crashing out in dramatic circumstances after Moises Caceido scored to level scores for Ecuador and opened the game up.

However, captain Koulibaly stepped up for his country big time with his sweeping finish 20 minutes from regulation time, to send the Senegalese fans in the stadium in rapturous scenes of jubilations.