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HSNB Dvais Studio NEW YORK -SPORT: As Senegal are learning to their dismay at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, Africa's champions have often struggled to recreate their continental dominance on the grandest stage, with Pape Thiaw's side on the brink of a group stage elimination after two losses in two matches.
Senegal followed up their opening 3-1 defeat by France with a 3-2 loss against Norway -- both at the MetLife Stadium -- to leave them staring at the face of an early exit from the tournament.
Things weren't meant to be like this.
When Senegal proudly displayed the AFCON title - and their winners' medals - at the Stade de France ahead of the March friendly against Peru, the Teranga Lions were proud and defiant. This despite having been stripped of their crown by the Confederation of African Football following their controversial final victory over Morocco in Rabat in January. Thiaw and his team appeared unfazed by the ruling.
They were Africa's champions, won - against the odds, against adversity - in Morocco, and they were primed to carry their impressive tournament form over to the FIFA World Cup. It's easy to see where the confidence comes from.
This Senegal generation have reached three of the last four AFCON finals, winning two, while they've now qualified for three consecutive World Cups - the first time in the nation's history that their presence at the high table has been so established.
In 2018, they were only eliminated on a fairplay ruling, in 2022 they reached the Last 16, and in the United States, with an expanded tournament, and the knockouts extended to 32 teams, they were expected to convert their Nations Cup form to the grandest stage.However, the history books show that AFCON winners have found it difficult to translate their Nations Cup successes to the World Cup in the immediate aftermath of their continental glory.
Indeed, there have only been three occasions in history - Nigeria in 1994, Nigeria in 2014 and Senegal in 2022 - when the reigning African champions have advanced past the group. 1988 winners Cameroon did reach the quarterfinals in 1990, but by then, they had been dethroned as African champions by Algeria.
In fact, it's far more common for the reigning AFCON champions to fail to qualify for the competition, let alone tumble in the group stage, with success in the continent rarely a guarantee of an impressive World Cup campaign.
It's not over, of course.
The eight best third-placed teams can still progress to the knockouts, meaning that victory against Iraq in their final group game will likely put Senegal back into contention, although they'll likely need to rack up the goals to be sure, as a minus-three goal difference - as things stand - leaves them with work to do to advance.
Thiaw insisted in Sunday's press conference that the issues surrounding the team this week - unpaid bonuses, substandard catering, the head coach's contract going unsigned - would not have an impact on their performance against Norway.
But he must now mastermind a survival act almost as impressive as their AFCON final victory, when they were only a fluffed Brahim Díaz panenka penalty away from defeat.
