Senegal, reigning African champion, brilliantly offered the scalp of the Brazilian team, five-time world champion, whose name still made people tremble in Africa, not so long ago. But, it must be believed, the Lions have grown well in the world of football since their coronation at the last CAN. Unless it’s the Auriverdes who can’t get out of an unprecedented crisis since their inglorious elimination at the last World Cup.
Still, the Lions initially survived a potentially fatal start to the game as Brazil were close to leading 2-0 had VAR not canceled a penalty awarded for a foul on Vinicius . At this point in the match, the Brazilians were already leading (1-0) after Paqueta’s opener (11ᵉ) was well served by a Vinicius on fire in the first 20 minutes. The first turning point of the match would come two minutes later with a superb equalizer from Habib Diallo (22nd) who volleyed a ball into Ederson’s box with his left foot.
One might have feared, at this time of year, that the air on the beaches of Lisbon would influence players in a hurry to go on vacation, but this Brazil-Senegal match was a very rhythmic and animated meeting between two teams who went forward. Senegal had nothing to do with the formation jostled three days ago in Cotonou by Benin (1-1), in the CAN 2024 qualifiers. The Lions have raised their level of play against a team from Brazil which was nothing like a second formation, despite the absences of Neymar and Rodrygo.
Mané, the awakening of the Lion
Senegal took the measure of the meeting, dominating for long periods a Brazilian team shaken in the impact, but who kept their legendary technique which could allow them to get out of a bad situation. The Lions, returning confident from the locker room, were quick to take the lead thanks to an own goal from Marquinhos (52ᵉ) pushed to the fault on a ball delivered to the penalty spot by Ismaïla Sarr. Three minutes later, Sadio Mané needed nobody to score the Lions’ third goal with a wrapped shot that ended up in Ederson’s small left net.
Almost under water, Brazil, in a burst of pride, reduced the score thanks to Marquinhos (58ᵉ). Senegal will be able to contain the assaults of the Auriverdes and even give this victory the appearance of a demonstration with a double penalty from Sadio Mané in stoppage time (90 + 6).
For Brazil, this is the third defeat in less than a year against African teams, after the setbacks to Cameroon (1-0) and Morocco (1-2).