Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has stated that they are ready for the World Cup Round of 32 clash against Belgium, stressing that ‘a new competition is starting’.
The Lions of Teranga will face the Belgian side in a highly anticipated clash on Wednesday in Seattle after they qualified as the worst third-placed team from the group stage.
The African giants suffered defeats to France and Norway in Group I, and their hopes of progressing into the knockouts were hanging by a thread as they took on Iraq. However, a 5-0 win against the Asian side saw them through, thanks to a superior goal difference over the other teams that had three points.
“We have a lot of respect for Belgium; they showed they are a great football nation. We are ready; we are prepared. We know that the Belgium team were first in the group, but we fought hard to get a qualification; we knew we had to rebel to gain it, and it’s a new tournament that starts, and we need a win,” Thiaw declared in a pre-match press conference.
“We needed to win the game against Iraq, and now we are qualified. It’s a new competition that’s going to start, and we are determined to win this game,” he added.
“It’s a different competition starting tomorrow (Wednesday), and it’s not because you finished top of your group that you are not going to be knocked out.”
Mendy still out
Senegal will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was absent in their win against Iraq. Thiaw confirmed he will not be available for the clash on Wednesday, but he will be on the West Coast, despite some lengthy air travel. The Al Ahli stopper flew back to Jeddah before heading back to the States on Tuesday.
“Mendy went back to his club (to receive treatment), and he’s going to get back to us tonight. He will be around tomorrow (Wednesday), and we hope he will be fit for the rest of the tournament.”
The coach also addressed the goals conceded and the manner in which it was done.
“The goals that we did concede it was linked to a lot of individual errors … when you come up against France and Norway, you cannot afford to be making those mistakes,” he continued.
