May 31, 2002, is a historic date for Senegalese football. In their first-ever World Cup appearance, Senegal shocked the world by defeating France in the opening match. The reigning world champions and heavy favorites were taken down by determined, organized Lions of Teranga, fueled by strong collective motivation. This achievement left a lasting impression and stands as one of the greatest moments in World Cup history.
Twenty years later, the players from that match still reflect on the preparation and mindset that drove the Senegalese squad. The stakes were much higher than just the game itself, as the clash symbolized a confrontation between two nations connected by a shared history and a strong presence of Senegalese players in the French league.
Ferdinand Coly recalled the intensity of that preparation and the desire to respond on the pitch. “In our eyes, in our attitude, we wanted to show who we were,” Ferdinand Coly remembered in Le Monde during Senegal’s return to the World Cup in 2018. “We were more motivated than ever. There’s a strong relationship between Senegal and France, a shared history. We had great respect for those players.”
In the same vein, Khalilou Fadiga addressed comments that seemed to show a lack of respect for the Senegalese team. “There was a bit of that,” Khalilou Fadiga recalled. “I remember Roger Lemerre [didn’t seem to know us well, even though almost our entire squad played in Ligue 1,” Khalilou Fadiga shared. “Marcel Desailly called it a folkloric match. We also read or heard things about marabouts… Anyway, it stung us!”
He also emphasizes the internal reactions triggered by these statements and certain behaviors perceived as disrespectful. “Did you see that (Bixente) Lizarazu didn’t know you?”
More broadly, the former midfielder highlighted a collective feeling of misunderstanding and underestimation. “Some didn’t even differentiate between Souleymane Camara and Henri Camara, even though most of the guys played in France,” the former Auxerre player insisted in L’Equipe. “It was insulting, and Bruno played on that. He showed us the newspapers. Uncle Marcel (Desailly) said it would be folkloric or something like that. It fired us up. We were finalists in the AFCON without losing (defeated by Cameroon, 0-0, 3-2 on penalties). There was zero respect. We love our continent, we respect our AFCON.”
The preparation was also marked by the influence of coach Bruno Metsu, who aimed to boost his players’ pride. “Bruno Metsu provoked Moussa N’Diaye. ‘Did you see that (Bixente) Lizarazu didn’t know you? Who does he think he is? You’ll show him, right?’ he said.”
⏳ J-1 !
Le premier match du Sénégal 🇸🇳 à la Coupe du Monde 2026 se jouera demain.
🇸🇳 Sénégal 🆚 🇫🇷 France
🕒 15h00 (heure de New York)
🕖 19h00 (heure de Dakar)Rendez-vous demain pour une entrée en matière très attendue ! 🌍🦁 pic.twitter.com/NCWZAgk4e7
— Football Senegal (@FootballSenegal) June 15, 2026
This dynamic helped strengthen the group’s determination. “Bruno added a bit more, and Moussa had steam coming out of his head when he saw Lizarazu, he wanted to stomp on him. In the end, he went right through him…”
Ultimately, this match remains a powerful symbol of the rise of Senegalese football and its ability to compete with the biggest nations on the world stage.
