The African champions will be there for the round of 16.

Senegal won their match against Ecuador, which they dominated for a long time (1-2).

Ismaila Sarr and Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winning goals while in the other match, the Netherlands easily completed their qualification by beating Qatar (0-2) and cementing their first place in Group A.

Despite Sadio Mané's package and the inaugural defeat against the Netherlands, Aliou Cissé's men believe in their destiny in this World Cup-2022.

In this round of 16 which does not say its name against Ecuador, the African champions assume their ambitions and show themselves from the first minutes of the match.

The opportunities keep coming.

On the left side, Sarr sends a good cross into the box: Dia takes the entire Ecuadorian defense with him on his call and Idrissa Gueye is alone in front of goal, but the Parisian does not fit (3rd).

Boulaye Dia then distinguished himself (5th).

Senegal spoils

The Teranga Lions are taking advantage of the speed and form of their wingers, Ismaila Sarr and Hilliman Ndaye, to cause the Ecuadorian defense a lot of trouble.

However, the Senegalese are struggling to be precise enough to materialize (29th, 34th, 37th).

In defense, Senegal is his worst enemy.

The Tri gets its best chances when the Lions panic at the recovery under pressure.

Nothing dangerous enough, however, to worry Edouard Mendy in the first period.

The opener finally comes shortly before the penalty break.

Unbalanced by Hincapié in the area, Ismaïla Sarr does justice to himself and logically gives the advantage to his team (44th, 0-1).

Ecuador on the attack

When they return from the locker room, the African champions slow down and give their opponents the opportunity to get back into the game.

For his part, Gustavo Alfaro proceeded to a tactical readjustment with a team that switches to 4-4-2 with Enner Valencia in the axis of the attack.

This poses problems for Aliou Cissé's men.

Preciado, Cifuentes, Estupinan multiply the long openings and the centers to find their captain and already triple scorer in the World Cup-2022.

The Lions defense held firm, regaining the serenity it did not display before the break.

But, inevitably, if you go back too far, you end up getting burned by the yellow flames.

On a corner, Torres deflects to the far post.

Caicedo prowls around as a surface fox and pushes the ball into the back of Mendy's net (68th).

Action reaction

Enough to put the lead back in the heads of the Senegalese, who are moving forward.

On a free kick, Kalidou Koulibaly, positioned to the right of the surface, takes the ball, previously touched by Ciss, and pushes it with the flat of his right foot into the cage of Galindez (70th, 1-2). 

A first goal in selection of Koulybaly which directly propels the Senegalese in the round of 16.

Despite an unbridled endgame and actions from both sides, the scoreline stood there.

Cruel for Ecuador, so well started in this World Cup, but who are told to leave.

On the other hand, Senegal can savor.

The team showed during this first round that it had mental resources and that it was not just Sadio Mané's team.

Even without his star, his dream of the first African team in the last four remains alive.

This will go through a round of 16 against the future first of group B.