England suffered a humbling 3-1 defeat to Senegal in a friendly match at the City Ground, marking the first loss under new manager Thomas Tuchel. The vibrant Senegalese side, displaying flair and tenacity, became the first African team to defeat England, exposing defensive frailties and sparking frustration among home supporters.
The match began brightly for England, with captain Harry Kane capitalizing on a seventh-minute error by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who failed to hold a shot from Anthony Gordon. Kane’s strike, his 73rd for England, gave the hosts an early lead. However, the advantage was short-lived as Senegal’s relentless pressure overwhelmed Tuchel’s side.
Senegal equalized five minutes before halftime when Kyle Walker’s lapse in concentration allowed Ismaila Sarr to sneak in at the far post and score. It was the first goal England had conceded in four games under Tuchel, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities that persisted throughout the match. Dean Henderson, standing in for Jordan Pickford, was frequently tested as Senegal exploited gaps in England’s backline.
The visitors took a deserved lead just after the hour mark when Habib Diarra capitalized on space behind England’s defense, firing through Henderson’s legs at the near post. England pushed for an equalizer, with Mendy redeeming his earlier mistake by denying Morgan Gibbs-White and Bukayo Saka with fine saves.
A late strike from Jude Bellingham was disallowed for a handball by Levi Colwill following a VAR review, further frustrating the hosts.
Senegal sealed their historic victory in stoppage time when substitute Curtis Jones lost possession, allowing Cheikh Sabaly to slot home a composed finish.
The goal triggered an angry response from the remaining City Ground crowd. Despite England’s strong record against African teams—15 wins and six draws in 21 prior matches.