Senegal midfielder Iliman Ndiaye spoke to BBC World Service ahead of the team's opening group match against France on June 17. "Our goal is to win the World Cup. We never fear anyone," Ndiaye stated.
The Everton midfielder emphasized how the squad has drawn inspiration from Senegal's 2002 World Cup campaign, when they famously defeated France in the group stage. Former player El Hadji Diouf, one of the stars of that team, has spoken to the current squad about that famous victory.
Senegal and Morocco are viewed as Africa's strongest sides at the 2026 World Cup. The African representatives face an opening encounter with France in a rematch of the 2002 encounter, when Senegal's underdog triumph became one of football's greatest shocks.
Ndiaye's confidence statements from a key midfielder could shift market perception of Senegal's opening match against France. The psychological invocation of the 2002 upset victory may increase underdog value for Senegal if markets underestimate the historical significance to team morale.
→ Match stats and preview on ScanGoal