Group A: Netherlands, Senegal favourites
Senegal will have an opportunity to make history in Qatar as the first African country to make the semi-finals of the World Cup by qualifying from Group A.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal are making their third appearance at the biggest football tournament in a group which has hosts Qatar, Netherlands and Ecuador.
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Being one of five African representatives at the World Cup, Senegal have a lot to do to make it out of the group stage of the competition if they are to qualify.
Senegal will enter the tournament as African champions and the topmost ranked team on the continent, making them one of the teams with a lot of expectations.
Having failed to qualify from the group phase of the World Cup since their quarter-final finish in South Korea-Japan in 2002, Senegal remain hopeful of making it big in Qatar.
It took them 16 years to make the tournament again in Russia in 2018 after their history-making participation in 2002. Senegal, however, failed to qualify from Group H and exited the tournament in the last edition.
Ahead of the tournament, Senegal are in good spirits especially after their exploits in Cameroun to win their maiden Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year.
Senegal will open their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign against European giants, Netherlands, on November 21 at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha before playing hosts Qatar and Ecuador on November 25 and 29 respectively.
Coach: Aliou Cissé
Key Players: Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nampalys Mendy, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Ismaïla Sarr and goalkeeper Édouard Mendy
Best Finish: Quarter-finals
Appearances: 3 (2002, 2018 and 2022)
QATAR
The host nation will make their debut World Cup campaign with a lot of responsibility to ensure they are successful.
Qatar’s only recognised trophy is the Asia Cup they won in 2019, and the biggest football tournament in the world provides them with the opportunity to attract talents to their country.
The Arabian side is dominated by home-based players who have the biggest task of taking on great footballers in Group A.
Qatar is scheduled to open the tournament on November 20 at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor against Ecuador before taking on Senegal and Netherlands on November 25 and 29.
Coach: Felix Sanchez
Key Players: Hassan Al-Haydos, Mohammed Muntari, Bassam Al-Rawi and Ali Assadalla
Appearance: 1 (2022)
NETHERLANDS
Despite failing to win the World Cup, the Oranje remain one of European’s powerhouse in the game and is one of the favourites ahead of the tournament.
The Dutch national team are looking forward to a 13th appearance at the World Cup with the aim of winning the most coveted football title in history after missing out in the 1974, 1978 and 2010 finals.
Coach Louis Van Gaal’s side are returning to the competition after failing to qualify for the last edition in Russia and are poised to make it count.
The Netherlands have competed in six of the last eight editions of the World Cup since the 1990 tournament in Italy and are the favourites to win Group A.
With their opening game against Senegal on November 21 at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, the Oranje are confident of making it out of the group after matches with Ecuador and Qatar in the final two games.
Coach: Louis Van Gaal
Key Players: Virgil van Dijk, Daley Blind, Matthijs de Ligt, Nathan Ake, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay
Best Finish: Final in 1974, 1978 and 2010
Appearances: 11 (1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2022)
ECUADOR
The Tricolors are making their fourth appearance at the mundial since their debut in 2002 in South Korea-Japan and hope to win big in Group A.
Ecuador failed to qualify for the 2018 edition of the tournament and are working tirelessly to at least qualify from the group stage.
The South Americans have made it out of the group phase of the competition just once in 2006 in Germany and coming up against Qatar, Senegal and Netherlands, Ecuador must dig deep to go through.
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Key Players: Enner Valencia, Moisés Caicedo, Piero Hincapié and Pervis Estupiñán
Best Finish: 2006 (Round of 16)
Appearances: 2002, 2006, 2014 and 2022