Senegal National Team World Cup Betting
The Lions of Teranga are making just their third World Cup appearance. Senegal didn’t make it to a World Cup before 2002, but the country has played well in its two previous World Cups. They have the best odds to win the World Cup of any African country, and Senegal is the only African nation that is expected to make the knockout rounds in the eyes of the oddsmakers.
Manager: Aliou Cisse
Nickname: Lions of Teranga
Confederation: CAF (Africa)
FIFA Ranking: 20 (March 2022)
Senegal World Cup Betting Odds
To Win Group A: +450
To Win 2022 World Cup: +8000
*Odds as of May 4, 2022
Senegal Group Stage Schedule
Senegal vs. Netherlands, Monday, November 21, 2022, 5 a.m. ET, at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha (FOX)
Qatar vs. Senegal, Friday, November 25, 2022, 8 a.m. ET, at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha (FS1)
Ecuador vs. Senegal, Tuesday, November 29, 2022, 10 a.m. ET, at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan (FS1)
History at the World Cup
Appearances: 3 (first in 2002)
Best Result: Quarter-finals (2002)
Senegal made history at the 2002 World Cup. This was the first World Cup appearance for the Lions of Teranga, and they were incredible in becoming the second African country to reach the World Cup Quarterfinals after Cameroon did it in 1990.
They were expected to finish in last place in a group with defending World Cup champions France, Uruguay, and Denmark, but Senegal stunned the French in their first match with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from Papa Bouba Diop. They were able to secure a point in a draw with the Danes in their next match before holding on for a 3-3 tie with Uruguay in a wild game. Senegal took a 3-0 lead into halftime thanks to a brace from Bouba Diop, but Uruguay scored three second half goals in a valiant effort to make the knockout rounds. It was too little, too late though and Senegal managed to hang on to finish second behind Denmark.
The Lions of Teranga were underdogs against Sweden in the Round of 16, yet they proved the doubters wrong again with a 2-1 win in added time as Henri Camara slotted in the golden goal. That set up a showdown with Turkey in the quarterfinals, and Senegal played to a 0-0 draw before Ilhan Mansiz scored a golden goal to push Turkey into the semifinals.
Senegal missed the next three World Cups before qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They were the best team not to make the Round of 16 as they lost a tiebreaker with Japan on fair play points to miss out on the knockout rounds. The Lions of Teranga beat Poland and drew Japan, but a 1-0 loss to Colombia doomed them.
What to Watch
Sadio Mane is by far the biggest name on the team and probably the most talented player in Senegal’s history. His next goal will make him the all-time leading scorer in national team history, and he needs just 11 more games to become the first player to reach the century mark in terms of appearances for the Lions of Teranga. Mane was the best player earlier this year when Senegal won its first Africa Cup of Nations title, earning Man of the Competition honors.
Senegal had four players (including Mane) selected to the Best XI of the Africa Cup of Nations. Nampalys Mendy hasn’t seen much international action, but the Leicester City midfielder showed a lot of class in the tournament. Saliou Ciss was one of the top defenders, and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy was the Golden Glove winner.
In addition to those four players is extremely talented midfielder Idrissa Gueye. He has 92 appearances for Senegal, and the PSG defensive midfielder should get to the century mark before Mane in terms of international caps. Young forwards Bamba Dieng and Ismaila Sarr might be worth keeping an eye on too.
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