Former Super Eagles head coach and a member of the FIFA Technical Study Group for the 2022 World Cup, Sunday Oliseh, has praised the doggedness of Aliou Cisse’s Senegal side for their win over Ecuador in their last group stage match on Tuesday.
Kalidou Koulibaly’s strike sealed a 2-1 win at the Khalifa International Stadium and earned a knockout stage for the Lions of Teranga.
It is the first time the Teranga Lions have qualified for the round of 16 at a World Cup since 2002 under the guidance of Bruno Metsu and Cisse featured in four of their five matches at that tournament.
Senegal also set the record as the first African nation to beat a South American side at the World Cup since Cameroon overcame Colombia in 1990.
The former Eagles coach was ecstatic and took to his Twitter account to congratulate Cisse and his team for their team spirit.
“Wonder coach Cissé at work! Congratulations to Senegal. Well-deserved qualification to the World Cup.
“In spite of all the injuries to star players like Sadio Mane, Kouyaté,” the former Super Eagles star tweeted.
Cisse’s side went into the game a point adrift of their opponents, but a deserved victory saw them secure the second spot in Group A behind the Netherlands, who beat hosts Qatar in the group’s other game.
Cisse dedicated Senegal’s victory over Ecuador to injured Sadio Mane.
Mane was ruled out of Qatar 2022 after suffering an injury in the build-up to the tournament, but Cisse’s thoughts quickly turned to the forward in the aftermath of his side’s huge win.
“I would like to dedicate this victory to a man who is doing extraordinary things for the country, who is unfortunately not here today. This man is called Sadio Mane,” he said.
Senegal face England on Sunday in place for the quarterfinal spot.