00:05Senegal are becoming World Cup regulars, with the West African nation returning for the
00:10third finals in a row.
00:13The Lions of Taranga first commanded international attention in 2002, reaching the quarter-finals
00:20on World Cup debut, equaling the best-ever finish for an African nation.
00:27On their second appearance at Russia 2018, they suffered the agony of elimination in the
00:33group phase via the fair play rule, after finishing level on points and goals with Japan.
00:41They followed up by reaching the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and securing
00:48the trophy in 2021, the country's first major international success.
00:56We dreamed of the Cup, and you built that dream and made it come true.
01:03At last, the African Cup of Nations is here with us.
01:10It's no coincidence that Senegal's emergence mirrors the success of the France national
01:14team in recent decades, thanks to the symbiotic relationship between French football and the
01:21African diaspora.
01:23For some time, the production line of talent in France has been the greatest in the world.
01:28It is also true that many of these players come from African backgrounds.
01:35Consequently, the France team that won the 2018 World Cup included a number of players capable
01:40of representing the country of their birth, or the African homeland of their parents.
01:47It also means lots of French-born and French-trained players representing other countries.
01:53At Russia 2018, for example, there were 29 players born in France not playing for Les Bleus.
02:02That included eight for Senegal, including Khalidou Koulibaly.
02:12I think playing a World Cup is the holy grail for a football player.
02:15It's everybody's dream.
02:17I was born in France, and since I saw France winning the 1998 World Cup, I always had the
02:24dream of playing in the tournament to represent my country, and today I have this chance.
02:28I already played one with the under-20 French team, but playing today for Senegal is something
02:34extraordinary.
02:35I am ready to give it all for my country.
02:42Koulibaly will captain his country to North America.
02:45After leading his side through an unbeaten qualifying campaign, one featuring eight clean sheets.
02:54When you have World Cup qualification at stake, I think you're prepared to do anything to
03:01get that ticket to the USA, Canada and Mexico.
03:10The players are motivated and determined to get that ticket in front of their home
03:15crowd because they know what a World Cup is like with the support of our fans.
03:27Pape Thiau will have a strong and experienced squad at his disposal in North America.
03:34Koulibaly, Sadia Mane and Idrissa Gueye are three of Senegal's foremost camps internationals, while
03:43Mane is by some margin his country's record goalscorer.
03:51Edouard Mondi is a UEFA Champions League winner.
03:54Pape Matassar has a Europa League title, while Ismail Assar helped Rennes to the Coupe de France
04:01and Crystal Palace to the FA Cup.
04:06Since 2024, Senegal have been ranked inside the top 20 in the world by FIFA.
04:12And they will be heading to North America, confident of not only reaching the knockout stages,
04:17but rivalling their incredible quarter-final run back in 2002.
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