Written By | Alex Mbamanya
France Will be facing Senal in their World Cup opener
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WORLD CUP 2026
Twenty-four years ago, world football experienced one of the biggest upsets in the history of the FIFA World Cup when debutants Senegal beat holders France 1–0 in the opening Group A game of the global showpiece hosted by Japan and South Korea.
It was a bigger upset than any the world had witnessed before—not even Cameroon's 1–0 win over holders Argentina in the 1990 tournament in Italy, courtesy of a 67th-minute François Omam-Biyik goal, would rival it.
Why? Because Cameroon had already been at the 1982 World Cup in Spain and were therefore not newcomers to the championship, unlike Senegal, who were appearing for the first time.
The 30th-minute Papa Bouba Diop strike on May 31, 2002, in Seoul, South Korea, has since become the most famous moment of that World Cup.
Today (June 16) marks exactly 24 years since the West African country went on to beat fancied Sweden 2–1, with two goals including a golden goal in the 104th minute by Henri Camara in the round of 16, to become the second African country to reach the quarter-finals—after Cameroon—before losing 1–0 to Turkey in the same stage.
Today's Group I opener between Senegal and France will not only evoke memories of the 2002 event but will also feature two sides that play almost the same style of football.
With Senegal coming into this year's edition as reigning African champions, France have since reached two finals of this tournament—winning it in 2018 in Russia and losing 4–3 on penalties to Argentina in the last edition in Qatar.
