England suffered their first defeat under new manager Thomas Tuchel, falling 3-1 to a sharp and resilient Senegal side at the City Ground. The result also marked the Three Lions’ first-ever loss to an African opponent.
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The home side got off to a bright start. In just the 7th minute, Eberechi Eze intercepted a loose ball and linked up with Conor Gallagher. Anthony Gordon’s first-time strike forced a save from Edouard Mendy, but Harry Kane was quick to pounce on the rebound to give England the early lead.
Senegal, however, responded with composure. Five minutes before halftime, Nicolas Jackson chased a long ball over the top and delivered a precise cross to Ismaila Sarr, who slotted home to equalize.
The visitors, riding a 23-game unbeaten run, took the lead in the 62nd minute. Another lofted ball behind England’s backline exposed their defensive frailty, allowing Habib Diarra to break through and beat Dean Henderson from a tight angle.
England thought they had found a lifeline in the 84th minute when Jude Bellingham scored from close range. However, the goal was disallowed after the referee ruled that Levi Colwill had handled the ball in the buildup.
Senegal sealed the win in stoppage time. Lamine Camara dispossessed Curtis Jones in midfield and launched a rapid counterattack, finding Cheikh Sabaly, who calmly controlled and finished to make it 3-1.
It was a clinical and historic win for Senegal, and a harsh wake-up call for Tuchel’s England, who now face mounting pressure after two underwhelming performances in a row.
