Senegal etched their name into the history books on Tuesday night with a momentous 3-1 win over England in a friendly at Nottingham’s City Ground. In doing so, the reigning African champions became the first team from the continent to defeat the Three Lions in 22 previous encounters.
The victory was powered by goals from Ismaïla Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly, canceling out Harry Kane’s early strike for England. Senegal’s win extends their unbeaten run to 24 games under manager Pape Thiaw, while England suffered their first loss in four matches since Thomas Tuchel took over as head coach.
“This is a fantastic night,” said Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly. “We knew we could do something in this game. It was tough, but we showed our personality and proved we can compete at this level.”
From Kane’s Opener to Senegal’s Dominance
England took an early lead in the 7th minute after Anthony Gordon’s shot was parried by Édouard Mendy, only for Kane to pounce on the rebound. But Senegal grew into the game and capitalized on defensive lapses from the hosts. In the 40th minute, Sarr caught Kyle Walker off guard to slot home Nicolas Jackson’s cross, leveling the score.
Senegal then turned the tide in the second half. Habib Diarra put the visitors ahead in the 62nd minute, sprinting onto a long ball before beating Dean Henderson with a powerful shot through the legs. Despite England’s attempts to rally, including a disallowed late goal by Jude Bellingham for handball in the buildup, the night belonged to the West Africans.
Cheikh Sabaly sealed the historic win deep into stoppage time with a calm finish, prompting loud boos from the home crowd and jubilation from the traveling Senegalese fans.
England Flat Under Tuchel as Concerns Grow
England boss Thomas Tuchel, who made 10 changes from their lackluster 1-0 win over Andorra, admitted his team looked “frozen” and lacked the necessary urgency. “We conceded two very easy goals. The reaction was good after we were down, but for long spells, we were simply not active enough,” he told reporters.
Captain Harry Kane echoed the disappointment, calling the performance “not good enough.” He added, “We had moments, but with and without the ball things aren’t clicking. We’ve lost that aggressive nature we had. It’s not time to panic, but we need to be better—and fast.”
England were outshot 9-4 on target, with Dean Henderson forced into multiple saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka came close to equalizing, but poor finishing and sharp goalkeeping from Mendy denied them.
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Senegal Shock England 3-1 to Make African Football History at City Ground
Since taking over in December 2024, Pape Thiaw has brought resilience and confidence to Senegal’s national side. Despite being knocked out on penalties by Ivory Coast in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16, Senegal have bounced back with two wins and two draws in four games under Thiaw’s watch.
Four of the players who started against England currently play in the Premier League, and others, like Koulibaly and Mendy, have past English top-flight experience. Their familiarity with England’s style of play may have played a key role in Tuesday’s triumph.
“We are not used to making history, but we made it when we won AFCON and we made it tonight,” Koulibaly added. “We want to continue writing the story of Senegal. This team has a good future.”
A First for Africa, a Wake-Up Call for England
According to Opta statistics, England had faced African opposition 21 times before Tuesday, winning 15 and drawing six. Notable close calls included a 1-1 draw with Tunisia in 1990 and a dramatic 3-2 extra-time win over Cameroon in the same year’s World Cup quarterfinals. But a loss had eluded them—until now.
This result also marks the first time England have lost to a nation from a new continent since their 3-1 defeat to Australia in 2003. As the World Cup approaches, England face growing scrutiny over their form and tactical direction under Tuchel.
For Senegal, the victory is more than just a friendly win—it is a statement. One that places them firmly among the emerging powers in international football and gives the African continent a moment to celebrate.
