Senegal’s national football team handed England a 3-1 defeat in an international friendly on Tuesday in Nottingham, marking the Three Lions’ first-ever loss to an African side. The West African country now holds the longest unbeaten streak in international football, with 22 matches without a defeat.
The Independent described the match as one in which the English side was “outpassed, outrun and outwitted” by a “cleverer and more coherent” opponent.
England took the lead in the seventh minute with a goal from captain Harry Kane. It was Kane’s fourth goal in as many games under new manager Thomas Tuchel, making him the first England player to score in each of a new manager’s first four games.
Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr equalized in the 40th minute, before Abib Diarra put the visitors ahead with a goal in the 62nd minute. Cheikh Tidiane Sabaly sealed the victory for the West African side with a third goal in stoppage time.
The landmark win by the Teranga Lions ended England’s unbeaten record against African teams, which had previously stood at 15 wins and six draws. It was also only the second time in history that England scored first at home but went on to lose by a two-goal margin – the last time being against Brazil in 1995.
Senegal had six shots on target in the first half – more than any team has managed against the Three Lions since Brazil registered eight in June 2013.
The loss was Tuchel’s first since taking charge of England, after victories over Albania, Latvia, and Andorra.
The African champions are preparing for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while England continues its build-up to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live that although he hates losing, “there’s no need to panic.”
“It is a tough learning, but we need to stay calm. We need to accept the criticism and get better…The World Cup is not next week. We have two more games in September and then we meet again in the World Cup season,” he stated.
