End of the road for Africa at 2018 World Cup

2018 WORLD CUP - FOCUS ON AFRICA

Live reporting by Joseph Kizza

@joekizza

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END OF THE 2018 WORLD CUP ROAD FOR AFRICA Full time: Senegal 0 Colombia 1 A crashing defeat for Senegal against South American side Colombia in the last Group H game means Africa's expedition at this World Cup has come to a blowing end.   The Teranga Lions were denied a penalty early in the game, thanks to VAR, as both sides huffed and puffed for a breakthrough. Colombia enjoyed most of the ball over the two halves. And they had good reason to keep the ball more. Jose Pekerman's side came into the game knowing they had to win to be certain of progression. And they did just that - through a fierce Yenny Mani header from a well-taken corner 16 minutes before time. The Colombians, who would still go through with a draw because Poland were leading Japan in the other group game, held on to the very end for a timely victory. This has been a historic tournament for the  African continent, having had five representatives for the first time ever. But it is game over for Africa. Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia (who play their final group game later against Panama) and now Senegal are now all out. In sharp contrast, all South American representation has advanced to the knockout stage: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Colombia.

 

 

 
      FULL TIME - Senegal 0  Colombia 1


Senegal 0 Colombia 1

It is all over for Senegal.

It is all over for Africa.

Yerry Mina's 74th-minute strike has punished the Lions of Teranga - and a continent.

 

 

 

90min      FOUR MINUTES OF ADDED TIME

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

The crowd is getting more anxious.

Into the last four minutes of this game.

 

 

89min      Senegal NEED to score!

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

Senegal are going out - unless they score now. A surge forward reminds you how desperate the Germans were against South Korea on Wednesday.

 

 

 

87min      Senegal NEED to score!

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

What a turnaround here in Samara!

Poland are not doing desperate Senegal any favours in the other game.

 

 

 

83min      Nervy finale

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

James Rodriguez has six goals and four assists in seven World Cup appearances.

The Colombian, substituted earlier in the game, is watching nervously from the sidelines as his side get on the brink of qualifying for the last 16.

The crowd is willing them on.

 

 

 

80min      SUBSTITUTION - Senegal

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

It is desperate times for Senegal now.

Aliou Cisse makes a change. Moussa Konate comes on in the place of Keita Balde.

Ten minutes left for the Lions of Teranga to save Africa.

 

 

77min      Senegal are going OUT (as it stands)

Senegal 0 Colombia 1

The Lions of Teranga came into this  game knowing a draw would take them through. But as it stands, they will be eliminated following that Mina goal.

Colombia, now on six points, will be progressing alongside Japan (who are trailing 1-0 against Poland).

 

 

74min      GOAL! - Colombia Senegal 0 Colombia 1 What a header by Yerry Mina! The defender rises powerfully to head Colombia into the lead with 16 minutes left. The stadium explodes into celebration. The Lions of Teranga are in trouble here.

 

 

72min      SUBSTITUTION - Senegal

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Sabaly will, indeed, not be back. Moussa Wague replaces him.

The substitute trots onto the pitch to take his position as Colombia prepare to take a corner.

 

 

71min      OUCH! - Sabaly (Senegal)

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Youssouf Sabaly is injured - and stays down.

He will require some medical attention as he walks gingerly off the pitch. He doesn't look like he will be back.

 

 

 

69min      WHAT BLUNDER!

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

What could have been?

Salif Sane will count his luck here as he miskicks the ball back towards his own goal. Fortunately, his keeper is alert to collect comfortably.

Restlessness creeps in on the Colombian bench.

 

 

 

65min      CLOSE! - Muriel (Colombia)

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

This game needs a goal - and the noise inside the arena is foreboding.

Soon, Colombia, apparently fired up by the news from the other group game, get a freekick that ends with substitute Luis Muriel's goalbound shot deflected out for a corner.

The resulting corner kick sees Radamel Falcao head over the bar. Goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye is untroubled by the effort.

 

 

60min      POLAND SCORE

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

There is a reason there is a sudden lift of the volume inside the Samara Stadium. Poland have just scored against Japan in Volgograd.

The Mexican fans are delighted because the tables - as it stands - have turned. It now means that Mexico are through to the knockout stage alongside Senegal.

 

 

 

57min      Mane magic

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Senegal are unbeaten in the 15 matches Sadio Mane has scored.

The Liverpool FC forward has, however, not found the back of the net yet here in Samara.

 

 

 

54min      Over the shoulder . . .

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Colombia find themselves in a position where they will have to produce something very special to beat this well organised Senegalese defense.

Meanwhile, there are no goals yet in the other Group H game between Japan and Poland.

Any Senegal fan will love this update.

 

 

 
  51min      YELLOW CARD! - Niang (Senegal)


Senegal 0 Colombia 0

The crowd has turned the volume up here.

And with such will from the stands, the players are bound to be a little more adventurous than the game rules can accept.

Mbaye Niang is booked for a challenge.

Meanwhile, dreadlocked Senegal coach Aliou Cisse is restless on the sidelines.

 

 

 

50min      Physical game again

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Action has taken off from where it stopped - physical in nature.

The referee is forced to blow the whistle several times.

 

 

47min      A first draw for Colombia?

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Colombia have never finished a World Cup finals game goalless.

They start on a powerful note - with attacking intent. They have the time to turn this around, but Senegal, as I always love to say, will have a BIG say in their latest ambitions.

 

 

 
      KICKOFF! - Second half


Senegal 0 Colombia 0

We are back for another 45 minutes of what promises to be a dollop of exciting World Cup football.

Colombia set the ball in motion.

 

 

5:58pm      Senegal and Japan advance (as it stands)

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

At half time, the Japan v Poland match is still a stalemate, as is the Senegal v Colombia clash.

This means that if it remains like this in both games of Group H, the Terenga Lions and the Samurai Blue will go through to the Group of 16.

 

 

5:55pm      Talking point

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

The talking point of the first half was the moment Senegal were first awarded a penalty, when Sadio Mane went under a Davinson Sanchez challenge, before VAR intervention turned that initial decision around.

Big decision that one!

VAR has played a huge role in this tournament - the first time it is being used at a FIFA World Cup.

 

 

 
     HALF-TIME


Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Colombia have a late corner, but again Senegal show that they are solid at the back, clearing the ball out of danger.

And referee Milorad Mazic sounds his whistle for the break.

The Lions of Teranga will be the side walking into the tunnel smiling. They have done a good job at holding out their South American opponents.

 

 

45min      THREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

It is still goalless in Samara, as well as nil-nil  between Japan and Poland in Volgograd Stadium.

 

 

 

 
44min      YELLOW - Mojica (Colombia)


Senegal 0 Colombia 0

And the first man to be booked in this game is Johan Mojica - for his foul on Ismaila Sarr.

 

39min      Deja vu?

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Senegal have faced South American opponents just once before in the World Cup, drawing 3-3 in their final group game in 2002 against Uruguay (a game in which they led 3-0).

Today, they are giving Colombia a tough test. It is still goalless here.

And this being the final group game, need I say that Senegal will qualify for the last 16 if the scoreline remains like this.

 

 

37min      WHAT A WASTE!

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

That was a poor freekick by Senegal's Salif Sane, awarded after Sadio Mane is brought down by Carlos Sanchez in what has shaped out to be a physical opening half.

Sane, amid the noise inside the stadium, rockets the kick into the moon.

 

 

 

35min      Was it a penalty?

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Early, Senegal were denied a penalty opportunity, thanks to VAR.

That could have been a game changer for sure!

 

 

 

33min      Ball possession: Colombia with slight edge

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

As it stands, Senegal will make it to the knockout stage.

But as we go slightly over the half-hour mark of the game, Colombia have bossed possession so far. The South Americans have enjoyed 59% of the ball.

 

 

30min      SUBSTITUTION - Colombia

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

James Rodriguez is crestfallen as he makes an early exit from this game. He might have carried an injury from an earlier challenge and feels he is in no shape to continue on the pitch.

Luis Muriel replaces him.

 

 

 

25min      CLOSE! - Falcao (Colombia)

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Here is where Colombia captain Radamel Falcao is at his most dangerous - inside the opponent's box.

Again, he finds himself in  that very space during a freekick delivered by Quintero, but the Colombian heads over the bar.

Had he lowered the angle, it would have gone in. But he was offside anyways.

 

 

 

23min      Physical affair

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

It has been a physical encounter so far.

The referee has to summon Senegal's Idrissa Gana Gueye for some talking to following his foul on Juan Quintero.

"Calm down!" the official cautions the Senegal man.

 

 

18min      NO PENALTY?

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Sadio Mane went down under an apparent challenge by Davinson Sanchez inside the box. The referee had to make a decision - aided by VAR.

So after checking on the screens in private, he returns to indicate there will be no penalty.

 

 

 

16min      PENALTY? - Senegal

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Sadio Mane is brought down.

Penalty for the Africans?

 

 

15min      Naughty! - Colombia

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

That was a needless challenge from Youssouf Sabaly on Juan Cuadrado.

 

 

12min      CLOSE! - Colombia

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

That was a great freekick by Juan Quintero near the edge of the box, but Senegal's goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye stretches well to finger the effort out of play for a corner.

That was going in for sure.

 

 

11min      First freekick - Senegal

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Vibrant crowd inside Samara Stadium.

The affair on the pitch is as balanced as the colours in the stands - so far. Two-way traffic.

 

 

 

07min      First freekick - Senegal

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

It is an early one, and Senegal are the beneficiaries.

The result comes to nothing though.

 

 

05min      Kayoute returns

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

Cheikhou Kouyate is making his first apperance on Senegal's starting lineup for the first time in this tournament.

And he is wearing the captain's armband today.

Both sides are still trying to settle into this game. They have quite a loud audience in their company.

 

 

02min      Feeling their way around

Senegal 0 Colombia 0

The crowd inside Samara Stadium is in full voice.

Senegal need a draw to move on, while Colombia must win to stand a chance.

Meanwhile, Japan are facing off with Poland (who are already eliminated) in the other Group H game.

 

 

 
      KICKOFF!


Senegal 0 Colombia 0

We are underway as Senegal start the ball.

Referee Milorad Mazic of Serbia is handling this evening's game. Senegal are in green while Colombia are wearing yellow and white.

Game on!

 

 

4:58pm      THE LINEUPS - Colombia

(Senegal v Colombia at 5pm)

STARTING XI: Ospina, Mojica, Mina, D. Sanchez, Arias, Uribe, C. Sanchez, James, Quintero, Cuadrado, Falcao

 

 

 

4:56pm      THE LINEUPS - Senegal

(Senegal v Colombia at 5pm)

STARTING XI: Ndiaye, Sane, Koulibaly, Gassama, Sabaly, Kouyate, Gana, Ismaila, Mane, Keita Balde, Niang

 

 

 

4:53pm      Warm evening in Samara

(Senegal v Colombia at 5pm)

It is a warm Thursday evening in Samara as kickoff nears by the second. The teams have lineup in the air-conditioned dugout, exchanging high fives and man hugs and all sorts of pleasantries.

Some look tense.

Outside, the fans are ready. Welcome to Samara Arena!

 

 

 

 

 

4:48pm      Hello and welcome

(Senegal v Colombia at 5pm)

This evening, we have the last games of Group H, where the top two of the four sides will advance to the Group of 16.

Senegal, who love to dance while going about their training sessions, stand a good chance.

 

 

But in their way is a Colombia side keen to upset the Africans and instead snatch the spot for themselves.

 

 

 

4:45pm      Avoid defeat and you are in

(Senegal v Colombia at 5pm)

That is Senegal's task cut out for them against Colombia this evening.

The Lions of Teranga need just a draw to progress to the knockout stage of this World Cup.

Colombia, on the other hand, must win to be certain of progression.

Who will have the last laugh?