FIFA World Cup 2018: Senegal's elimination sees no African team reach Rd of 16 for first time since 1982Senegal bowed out of the FIFA World Cup 2018 after a 1-0 loss to Colombia in their final Group H clash as Japan squeezed into the knockouts stage due to a better fair play record. Senegal's elimination ended African campaign at the World Cup with all five teams from the continent out of the group stage. It's the first time in the history of the tournament that there is no representative from Africa at the World Cup.
Senegal were the last African team to bow out of the FIFA World Cup 2018 |Photo Credit: AP
Senegal were looking the most likely qualifiers from the Group H of the FIFA World Cup 2018 after getting off to a winning start in the opener. But their journey was cut short after a 1-0 loss to Colombia in their final group stage clash as Japan squeezed into the last 16. Senegal were carrying African hopes, as the only remaining team from the continent with hopes of progressing on the final day of group matches. But Colombia had other plans as they sparked a brilliant turnaround to jump from the third spot to finish on top of Group H.
The round of 16 at the ongoing World Cup will see no African teams, first such instance since 1982. Senegal became the last team from Africa to crash out due to the second best fair play record compared to Japan. Yellow cards, at the end sealed Africa's fate at the World Cup in a dramatic turn of events, as Colombia who were placed third before the match jumped to the top spot.
Since 1982, when the group stage was introduced, an African team has always qualified into the knockouts except in the current one. There were a total of five teams representing Africa at the Russia extravaganza - Egypt (Group A), Morocco (Group B), Nigeria (Group D), Tunisia (Group G), Senegal (Group H).
Egypt lost their opening two encounters to get eliminated from the group stages. Morocco lost to Iran and Portugal before drawing with Spain to not progress further from the first round. Nigeria bowed out after losing to Argentina 2-1 in their final game, while Tunisia failed to open their win account in their first two encounters.
European teams have produced the finest displays as they dominate the round of 16 with ten teams from the UEFA region. South Americans are next with four teams from the region making it to the knockout stages. Mexico and Japan, meanwhile, are the only team to have made it to the knockout stages from CONCACAF and Asia respectively.
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