Senegal shocked England with a 3-1 win on Tuesday, handing the Three Lions a painful defeat in front of a home crowd at the City Ground in Nottingham. It was a night to remember for Senegal, and one to forget for new England boss Thomas Tuchel, who suffered his first loss in charge.
England started strong, with Harry Kane putting them ahead in the 7th minute after pouncing on a loose ball in the box. But Senegal stayed calm and slowly grew into the game. Their equalizer came just before half-time when Ismaïla Sarr fired home following good build-up play.
In the second half, Senegal raised their game. Nicholas Jackson, who had been quiet early on, made his mark with a clever assist in the 62nd minute. He slipped a perfect pass through to Habib Diarra, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to give Senegal the lead
England thought they had drawn level through Jude Bellingham, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for a handball by Levi Colwill in the buildup. That decision seemed to take the wind out of England’s sails.
Senegal wrapped things up in stoppage time with a clinical counterattack. Cheikh Sabaly finished it off, making it 3-1 and silencing the home fans. Some boos could even be heard as England walked off the pitch.
This win marks the first time England have ever lost to an African nation. For Senegal, it was a performance full of energy, discipline, and confidence. For England, there are questions to answer, and not much time before the World Cup begins. But for now, Senegal can celebrate a historic victory, and Nicholas Jackson can be proud of his role in it.
