- Gana and Ndiaye featured in Senegal’s opening FIFA World Cup match.
- The Lions of Teranga fell to a 3-1 defeat at Met Life Stadium.
- Gueye started for his nation while Ndiaye was introduced in the latter stages.
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye opened their FIFA World Cup campaigns for Senegal as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against a free-flowing French side at Met Life Stadium.
Gueye made his first start in a football match since Everton were defeated by West Ham in April, and Ndiaye was dropped to the substitutes’ bench, but was introduced to the action in the back end of the second half.
The first half was a cagey affair, and Senegal should have been one goal to the good, yet Ismaila Sarr wasted a golden opportunity, but France came out firing after half-time and were just too good for their opponents.
Minutes in the legs and a promising cameo
Although it was an ultimately disappointing result for Senegal, they can take positives from their display, and so can Everton’s stars.
Gueye struggled with his fitness in the final few matches of the Toffees’ recent campaign, but he will take courage from the fact that he was on the pitch until the 88th minute.
But the decision to drop Ndiaye was a rather surprising one, considering he was a key man in their last AFCON campaign, and started in both warm-up matches.
Yet the decision to play Sarr over Everton’s star winger could have been down to the fast counter-attacking style Senegal implemented in the match.
Regardless, Ndiaye made the most of his short minutes on the pitch and grabbed an assist for Senegal’s only goal, thanks to a thumping strike from wonderkid Ibrahim Mbaye.
Idrissa Gana Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye will bounce back
Facing one of the tournament favourites was always going to be a huge task for Pape Thiaw’s men, and they will take positives from their opening 45 minutes in New Jersey.
Their next match is against Norway, which on the surface appears to be the two sides that will contest second place in Group I, and following that is an encounter with Iraq, a team they should be able to notch a win against.
Gueye’s return to action has proven his ability to still compete at a high level, and Ndiaye’s assist could see him hop back into a starting role for his nation.
The next two matches are must-win if Senegal want to go far in the World Cup, and Everton’s star duo will have a huge say if they are to do so.
