Senegal coach Aliou Cisse regrets seeing Japan equalize twice to earn a draw in their exciting Fifa World cup game at the Ekaterinburg Stadium on Sunday.
After beginning on a good note in their first match by claiming a hard fought 2-1 victory against Poland, the Teranga Lions would have sealed a round sixteen spot with one game in hand, had they won against their Group H opponents.
Sadio Mane and Moussa Wague had twice put the Africans ahead, only for the Blue Samurai to respond on both occasions as Takashi Inui and substitute Keisuke Honda hitting from close range.
🚀🚀🚀#JPNSEN pic.twitter.com/Jqnrk594PP
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 24, 2018
As a result, Cisse asserted that his lads did not reach the same level as they allowed Japan back into this contest.
“Of course we have regrets. We must acknowledge that we didn’t see a great Senegalese performance tonight in comparison to the match against Poland,” the 42-year-old said at the post-match conference.
“We were not very good frankly, and Japan were the better team, I have to admit that. But despite that fact, we led twice and what’s annoying for me is the two goals we conceded. Japan played as expected; they are a very technical team with such good quality in that respect.
“We pressured them well at the start and they made some errors, which we exploited. But as soon as gave them some space, it became difficult for us. Now we have to hope for the best when we face Colombia,” the former national team captain ended.
Four goals shared between @jfa_samuraiblue and @FootballSenegal in Ekaterinburg.
Good game, that.#JPNSEN pic.twitter.com/EJDfRXUjS2
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 24, 2018
Colombia on the other hand, claimed an emphatic 3-0 triumph against Poland. The chances of the Orga in qualifying for the next stage are now off and it will be a three-team race for two slots.
What a night for Colombia! #POLCOL // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/tN9tAv0ehj
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 24, 2018
Senegal will play Los Cafeteros at the Samara Arena on Thursday June 28 while Japan also face Poland at the Volgograd Stadium on the same day.
