Senegal Makes History as First African Nation to Defeat England

Senegal etched their name into football history on June 10, 2025, becoming the first African nation to defeat England in a 3-1 victory during an international friendly. The match, which marked England’s first loss under new manager Thomas Tuchel, showcased Senegal’s resilience, skill, and tactical prowess, leaving the Three Lions reeling and their fans booing at the final whistle.

The game began with a glimmer of hope for England, as captain Harry Kane struck in the seventh minute, capitalizing on a spilled shot by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after Anthony Gordon’s effort. However, Senegal, under the guidance of coach Pape Thiaw, responded with relentless energy. Ismaila Sarr leveled the score in the 40th minute, catching England’s Kyle Walker off-guard to slot in a cross from Nicolas Jackson. The visitors’ momentum only grew in the second half, with Habib Diarra exploiting gaps in England’s defense to fire a shot through goalkeeper Dean Henderson’s legs in the 62nd minute, giving Senegal a 2-1 lead.

England pushed for an equalizer, with Mendy redeeming his earlier error by denying Morgan Gibbs-White and Bukayo Saka with fine saves. A late goal by Jude Bellingham was disallowed for a controversial handball by Levi Colwill, a decision that sparked frustration among the England squad and fans. Senegal sealed their historic win in stoppage time when substitute Curtis Jones lost possession, allowing Cheikh Sabaly to finish a swift counterattack with composure, securing a 3-1 scoreline.

Senegal’s captain, Kalidou Koulibaly, hailed the victory as a landmark moment, likening it to their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations triumph. “It was a tough game, but we showed our personality and proved we can play at this level,” Koulibaly told BBC Radio 5 Live. The win extended Senegal’s unbeaten streak to 24 games, underscoring their status as one of Africa’s footballing powerhouses, even without key players like Sadio Mané and Pape Sarr.

For England, the defeat exposed familiar weaknesses, with Tuchel’s side appearing disjointed and lacking tempo. “We weren’t active enough for long periods,” Tuchel admitted to ITV Sport. “We conceded easy goals and need to defend better, but our reaction after going down was positive.” Kane echoed the sentiment, urging calm but acknowledging the need for improvement: “We’re not going to panic, but things aren’t clicking. The World Cup is coming fast, and we need to find our form.”

The match marked England’s first loss to an African opponent in 22 encounters, ending a record of 15 wins and six draws. Senegal’s nine shots on target compared to England’s four highlighted their dominance, as they outpassed and outran a lackluster Three Lions side. Social media buzzed with praise for Senegal, with posts on X celebrating their historic achievement and noting the absence of key players as a testament to their depth.