England’s 22-match unbeaten run against Senegal came to an end on Tuesday as the Three Lions suffered a 3-1 defeat in a friendly at the City Ground. The loss marked England’s first under manager Thomas Tuchel and extended Senegal’s unbeaten streak to an impressive 24 games.
Despite an early goal from captain Harry Kane in the 7th minute, England were largely outplayed by a confident Senegal side. The match saw goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly, sealing a historic win for coach Aliou Cissé’s squad. Kane’s strike came after Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy failed to control a low shot from Anthony Gordon, allowing Kane to score from close range.
Senegal responded strongly, with Sarr levelling in the 40th minute from a Nicolas Jackson assist. Diarra then gave Senegal the lead in the 62nd minute, calmly finishing past Dean Henderson. England’s hopes of a comeback were dashed when a goal from Jude Bellingham was disallowed for handball. Substitute Cheikh Sabaly added a third in stoppage time, confirming the result and prompting boos from the home supporters.
Tuchel criticised his team’s performance, citing a lack of aggression and poor defensive organisation. “We didn’t deserve to lose by two goals, but we gave away two very easy ones. It took us too long to react,” he said. The German coach has now won two, drawn one, and lost one of his first four matches in charge.
England had made ten changes to their starting lineup following a narrow 1-0 win over Andorra, giving opportunities to younger players. However, the rotated side failed to cope with Senegal’s pace and pressing, managing only four shots on target to Senegal’s nine.
Senegal’s victory highlights their growing strength on the international stage, while England faces mounting pressure to regain form ahead of the upcoming World Cup. Kane admitted the team must improve quickly, saying, “We know we need to be better. No excuses. We need to find our rhythm and fast.”
