Teams
Senegal managed to qualify for their third straight World Cup by finishing top of Group B in African qualifying, but they needed a win in their final game to ensure automatic qualification with DR Congo, who also qualified for this summer’s tournament, hot on their heels in second place. Senegal finished the campaign unbeaten, and following their impressive performance in the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, they will be looking to progress further than any other African side this summer. In what has become a bit of a farcical situation, Senegal defeated Morocco in the final 1-0 to lift the trophy on the day, only for that decision to be reversed months later and the match awarded to Morocco after the Senegalese players left the field following a decision by the referee they did not agree with. Nonetheless, Senegal are certainly one of the teams to beat this summer.
Mane is already the top goalscorer for his nation, and is already 24 goals clear of second place before the tournament even begins. At 34 years of age, this could be Mane’s final tournament for his nation, and having been lighting the Saudi Pro League alight for the last few years, he arrives in America in hot scoring form. He was top scorer for his country in qualifying, and will the main man to watch in the Group of Death this summer.