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Qatar 2022 turns catastrophic for Qatar! Teranga Lions roar back

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Al Thumama Stadium, State of Qatar

Realistically, Qatar’s World Cup hopes have ended after two group matches. A win or a draw for Netherlands against Ecuador, who beat Qatar in the tournament’s opening game, later today will see the Qataris become the first side mathematically eliminated from the competition

Their opening 2-0 loss to Ecuador on Sunday has been followed up with another loss, this time 3-1 to African champions, Senegal.

With a consecutive losses, Qatar have become the the first hosts to lose two consecutive opening games in 92 year history of the World Cup.

But for Muhammed Muntari pulling a goal back, Qatar would have become the first host nation not to have scored after two matches.

The hosts made initial bravado as the game opened in the first half, but the hurstling and burstling soon waned.

Senegal drew the first blood when Boulaye Dia rettled the ball into the net in the 41st minute.

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By then, most Qataris have started leaving the stadium. Senegal carried the advantage into the second half.

Famara Diedhou doubled Senegal’s advantage with a brilliant glancing header from an Ismail Jakobs corner in the 48th minute.

Mohammed Muntari reduced the deficit in the 78th with a bullet header from Mohamad’s cross but Senegal were unruffled as they continued to out-muscle their opponents in midfield.

Six minutes after Muntari’s goal, Bamba Dieng swept home a pass form fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye for his side’s third to consign Qatar to the bottom of Group A with no points, while their group rivals all have three.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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