By Adeboye Ajayi
St. Petersburg (Russia) – Senegal’s 0-1 loss to Colombia on Thursday in their final Group H match played at Samara meant all five African representatives at the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been eliminated from the mundial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this development made it the first time the continent would not be represented in the competition’s round of 16 since its introduction in 1986.
In spite of all efforts by Senegal to avoid joining Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia in the group of first round losers, Yerry Mina’s second goal of the competition made it impossible.
With the result, Senegal finished third in the group with four points, behind Japan who also have the same points and number of goals scored, but have better disciplinary record.
The victory earned Colombia the group leadership with six points, while Japan advanced to the next stage of the competition in spite of a 0-1 loss to Poland on Thursday.
Colombia will meet the Group G runners-up in the round of 16 at Moscow’s Spartak on Tuesday, while Japan will face Group H winners in Rostov -on-Don on Monday.
NAN reports that Senegal had in their last appearance at the World Cup, at Korea/Japan in 2002, made it to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
(NAN)
