Boulaye Dia gave Senegal a 1-0 lead over Qatar at the break in their 2022 World Cup Group A clash at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday, a game in which both sides could do with a victory after losing their opening fixtures.
The Qataris were denied a penalty when Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr appeared to bundle over playmaker Akram Afif towards the end of the first half, but they were punished when Boualem Khoukhi made a mess of his clearance and Dia pounced to score.
Earlier, defender Ismail Jakobs got his first start of the tournament for Senegal and Meshaal Barsham got the nod in goal for Qatar.
Jakobs, who was born in Germany and represented them at under-age level, came off the bench in Senegal’s opening 2-0 defeat by Netherlands, a game he almost missed due to issues with international clearance.
Senegal manager Aliou Cisse swapped Jakobs in for the injured Cheikhou Kouyate and Pape Abou Cisse was replaced by Famara Diedhiou, while Qatar boss Felix Sanchez made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Ecuador.
With both sides having lost their first game, a defeat for either at the Al Thumama Stadium would likely see them go out of the competition, depending on the result of the Netherlands-Ecuador game later on Friday.
Teams:
Qatar: Meshaal Barsham, Pedro Miguel, Abdelkarim Hassan, Ismail Mohamad, Hassan Al-Haydos (captain), Akram Afif, Karim Boudiaf, Homam Ahmed, Assim Madibo, Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali.
Senegal: Eduoard Mendy, Youssouf Sabaly, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdou Diallo, Nampalys Mendy, Famara Diedhiou, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Ismail Jakobs, Krepin Diatta, Ismaila Sarr, Boulaye Dia.
