Three Talking Points | Qatar 1-3 Senegal | OneFootball

Qatar have all but now bowed out of the FIFA World Cup, as they picked up a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Senegal.

But the Asian side scored their first goal in World Cup history and there are certain lessons we can draw from the game.

Akram Afif is the real deal

While 26-year-old Akram Afif has not scored in the tournament, he has been hugely impressive for Qatar throughout the World Cup. Even when he’s playing as a striker, Afif has shown a keen willingness to drop deep, conduct play and act as an extra man in build-up for the side. His unselfish, combined with impressive technical ability, makes him someone who is always the one to watch for the opposition. He might be someone who can get a move away from Qatar soon.

Ismaila Sarr is huge for Senegal

Sarr had Matthijs de Ligt on his toes in the game against the Netherlands and he impressed once again today, as he showed a keen willingness to take defenders on and beat them. With the African side yet to play Ecuador, how Sarr performs will be key in determining whether Senegal go through the next round or not.

In a way, the World Cup can help Sarr get a move away from Watford and helps him earn a bigger global spotlight.

Mendy silences critics

While Edouard Mendy has had a fair amount of criticism for his performances with Chelsea and for how he played in the game against the Dutch, he was vital today. His save to keep the score at 2-0, in hindsight, was very important considering how Qatar did manage to pull one back later.

The good performance probably comes at the right time, with a decider set to played against Ecuador soon.

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