CORNERFLICK
Pap Tião said Senegal’s 3-1 loss to France in their first World Cup group game did not fully reflect the balance of play.
The Senegal coach said his team were strong in the first half and caused problems for one of the tournament’s title contenders. He added that his players showed real character against a France side that made its chances count.
Tião pointed to missed opportunities as the key difference. He said mistakes are punished at this level, and France made the most of the openings they created.
He also praised Senegal’s younger players and urged his squad not to be discouraged by the result. Senegal now have two group games left and Tião said qualification remains in their own hands.
Tião highlighted the difficulty of dealing with players such as Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise, saying they changed the game at key moments. Senegal leave Group I without a point and turn next to a crucial meeting with Norway.