Qatar 2022: Solaja tips Teranga Lions to roar past England

Photo: Senegalese players celebrate their victory over Ecuador.

By George Aluo

Nigeria’s most capped World Cup journalist, Kunle Solaja has tipped the Teranga Lions of Senegal to get past England in the Qatar 2022 Round of 16 clash on Sunday.

Solaja who is still basking in the euphoria of the FIFA recognition he got in Qatar after covering eight mundials told Deji Omotoyibo’s Afrosports TV that the Senegalese have shown they have what it takes to go far in the tournament.

He pointed out that the Teranga Lions appear not to be missing their talisman Sadio Mane who pulled out of the World Cup no thanks to injury. He said the African champions knew what to do when they faced Ecuador insisting that with their tactical discipline they would get things right and do Africa proud in Qatar.

In his words…”Senegal are most likely going to have the best of results here. They are Africa’s number one and they have been able to adjust to the missing of their star player Sadio Mane whose absence is not really being felt…you could see the determination with which they play.”

Solaja stressed that the Senegalese appear to have learnt from the tactical mistakes the Super Eagles made four years ago in Russia against Argentina.

“The Eagles instead of trying to preserve their lead against Argentina went for the kill which they never got. But here the Senegalese did what they were supposed to do against Ecuador and got into the Round of 16. They have learnt from that,” Solaja said.