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IN January, the Lions of Teranga needed a penalty, in the seventh minute of time added on, for them to edge the Warriors 1-0 at the AFCON finals in Cameroon.
Their talisman, Sadio Mane, converted the late penalty at the Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam.
Senegal went on to win the group and also win their first Nations Cup crown.
Ten months later, the Lions of Teranga have just become the first African nation to qualify for the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup.
They edged Ecuador 2-1 in the winner-take-all match on Tuesday.
Mane is not with the Senegalese in Qatar, after injury ruled him out of the tournament, but this has not stopped them from marching for glory.
It’s hard to imagine, right now, as the West Africans bask in the glow of success that, just 10 months ago, they struggled to beat the Warriors in an AFCON group match.
It was a tough duel and the Senegalese dominated possession in the early exchanges through Gana Gueye.
Then, the Warriors captain Knowledge Musona tried his luck from distance but his ambitious shot failed to trouble Senegal Seny Dieng.
Mane missed a good chance to break the deadlock when played through with only the ‘keeper to beat he fired straight at the brilliant Petros Mhari.
Aliou Cisse’s team won a late penalty when substitute Pape Gueye’s effort came off the arm of a defender in stoppage time and star man Mane fired in the winner from the spot.
So what does this tell us?
“It just tells us that we are not as bad as people suggest,” said one fan in the online discussions which followed Senegalese success.
“It shows us that we have a good squad of players, maybe not as talented as the Senegalese, but who can play at a very good level.
“If we can get it right in the way we prepare for the big games and tournaments, we could go places.”
Online Reporter