As Senegal’s national team beats Poland to become the first African team to win a match at the 2018 World Cup, the Lions of Teranga were not the only ones who made Africans proud as its supporters were seen cleaning after themselves after the match.
The Senegalese beat the Polish national team by 2 goals to 1 on Tuesday. Idrissa Gueye capitalized on a pass from Sadio Mane in the 37th minutes to put Senegal ahead. Poland’s back pass in the 60th minutes did not envisage the presence of Senegal’s M’Baye who had left the field and was returning and hence was properly positioned.
Poland’s 3 minutes to the end of play goal did not change the winner of the match, even though it narrowed down the goal margin in a Group H where Senegal and Japan lead, surprisingly.
“Senegal today represents the whole of the African continent,” said Coach Aliou Cisse, who was also a footballer with the National team.
“We are Senegal. We do represent our country, but we can also guarantee that the whole of Africa is supporting our Senegal national team. I get phone calls from everywhere. People do believe in our team and they’re proud.”
Supporting the Environment
After the match, supporters of the Senegalese national team were seen cleaning up the section of the stadium they occupied during the match. A gesture which did not get much media attention and which UK’s Daily Mail oddly described as “cleaning up the mess they had made in all the excitement”.
How the British media reported Senegal’s victory as a whole may become a subject of concern.
The Telegraph ran the headline “Senegal survives Poland’s onslaught” referring to a Poland that scored its first goal 3 minutes to the end of the match, after taking in 2 goals from the African side.
But on the same day the Japanese National team cleaned up after itself, and British media Houses reported this as a good Japanese custom and did not trace the origin of the mess they cleaned up. Instead, the BBC charaterized the mess as a normal scene after a football match.
FIFA, however, tweeted the video of Senegalese fans cleaning up, describing it as “the best thing you will see today”
This is the best thing you will see today.
Senegal fans cleaning their section before leaving the stadium to celebrate their historic victory against Poland. 👏🏻🇸🇳 pic.twitter.com/yre3Cmn1yy
— FlFA World Cup (@WorIdCupFC) June 19, 2018
Just as Japan has a history, dating back to 2014, of cleaning up, Senegalese supporters are award winning for so much fairness they cheer up their opponents. Senegalese football fan club Allez Casa cheers opposition teams as much as its side, saying it is there to support the athletes even though it wants its side to win.
Teranga, the culture of wellbeing
Teranga is a Senegalese Wolof word for hospitality. It is an integral part of the national identity in Senegal and that is why the football team is called the Lions of Teranga.
Senegalese use it in greeting as a way of inquiring about the health and welfare of family members in addition to either a long handshake, hug, or three kisses from cheek to cheek.
Regular visitors to Senegal say it is hard to walk down the street without being approached by a man with an outstretched hand, willing to talk all afternoon about his country, his people, and even his religion. Senegal is 92 percent Muslim.
Teranga to some others means when you meet a stranger you greet them like they are family members.
Africa’s World Cup Hope?
The Senegalese were Group D winners in African qualifiers. They did not lose a game in the process, finishing five points. Senegal has been to the World Cup just once, in 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals, losing 1-0 to Turkey after extra time. Of the 22 players it took to the 2002 games, 21 of them play for clubs in France.
It beat France, the reigning champions in 2002, by a goal to none. A feat which suggests that the team is highly motivated to make a mark. Their new role as Africa’s hope in the tournament may be a further push. They appear to be making us of it on and off pitch.
