France finally settled a 24-year-old score on the World Cup stage, defeating Senegal 3-1 in their opening Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The victory came exactly 24 years after Senegal shocked the football world by beating defending champions France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup.
The highly anticipated encounter carried significant historical weight. Senegal’s famous victory in 2002 remains one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, helping the African nation reach the quarter-finals in its debut tournament appearance. France, meanwhile, suffered an early and humiliating exit from that competition without scoring a single goal.
On Tuesday, however, the script was different.
After a tightly contested first half in which Senegal created several dangerous opportunities, France emerged stronger after the break. Led by captain Kylian Mbappé, Les Bleus took control of the match with a dominant second-half display. Mbappé opened the scoring before Bradley Barcola doubled France’s advantage, putting the European giants firmly in command.
Senegal refused to surrender and briefly reignited hopes of a comeback when they pulled a goal back late in the game. However, Mbappé delivered the final blow in stoppage time, scoring his second goal of the night to secure a convincing 3-1 victory for France.
Beyond securing three valuable points, the match was another milestone for Mbappé. His brace saw him become France’s all-time leading goalscorer while also moving him further up the list of the greatest goalscorers in World Cup history.
Despite the defeat, Senegal showed flashes of quality and resilience against one of the tournament favourites. The Lions of Teranga created chances throughout the match and demonstrated why they remain one of Africa’s strongest football nations. Coach Pape Thiaw, however, acknowledged that his side must improve both defensively and in front of goal ahead of their remaining group-stage fixtures.
For France, the victory represents more than just a successful start to their World Cup campaign. It closes a painful chapter that has lingered since 2002, when Senegal stunned the reigning world champions and announced themselves on the global stage. Twenty-four years later, France finally has its revenge.
TNAM
By Egwu Patience Nnennaya
