World Cup 2022: Boulaye Dia, rare but precious scorer for Senegal
Senegalese Boulaye Dia, scorer against Qatar, in the 2022 World Cup. REUTERS - KAI PFAFFENBACH
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
2 mins
Boulaye Dia opened the scoring for Senegal against Qatar (3-1) on November 25 in Doha, in Group A of the 2022 World Cup. This is the striker's first goal in a phase major tournament final.
The center-forward, elected man of the match against the Qataris, had already been decisive in the access dams for this World Cup, against Egypt.
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From our Special Envoy in Doha,
It is surely not the most beautiful of his career.
But this one was crucial for the Senegal team.
This November 25, Boulaye Dia unblocked the situation against Qatar, in the first round of the
2022 World Cup
.
He was able to take advantage of a slip from opposing defender Boualem Khoukhi to open the scoring in force.
To (re) read ► 2022 World Cup: Senegal revives and sinks Qatar
A first achievement in the final phase of a major tournament necessarily striking for the 26-year-old striker.
“
It took a lot of work to get there.
Putting a goal in a World Cup, especially for my first participation in this competition, it was something important for me
”, underlines in a press conference the one who was also elected man of the match.
A double individual satisfaction for the resident of Salernitana, in Italy.
“
Three-four years ago, I was still an amateur player
, recalls the one who played in the 4th French division before playing with the pros in Reims (France) and Villarreal (Spain).
Given my career, I can only be satisfied tonight
.
Already decisive in qualifying
Boulaye Dia had also been decisive in qualifying for this World Cup.
It was he who had allowed the Lions to equalize on all of the two matches, against Egypt, in the play-offs.
There too, a fox goal from the surfaces.
Do these achievements justify the confidence that Aliou Cissé grants him by regularly establishing him in recent months?
The one who is now 4 goals in 20 selections knows he can and must do better as a point man for the African champions.
Facing the Dutch, he had thus weighed but without shaking the nets.
“
It is clear that we lacked efficiency against the Netherlands, given all the opportunities we had
, underlines the person concerned.
We understood the coach's message
.
Next decisive meeting for number 9, Tuesday against Ecuador.
To (re) read ► 2022 World Cup: match schedule and results
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