An Ode To Senegal: The Most Pure And Good Team Of The FIFA World Cup

Senegal, cruelly, are out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The African nation was eliminated under the Fair Play Rule, the first time a team has been dumped out of the group stages via that method in World Cup history.

Following a 1-0 loss to Colombia, Senegal finished the group stages on equal points with Japan, and with an exactly equal goal differential tally, meaning the teams had to be split via the amount of yellow cards awarded to them throughout the tournament. Japan had acquired four, Senegal six, which elevated Japan to second place in Group H and eliminated Senegal from the tournament.

And we are all the poorer for it too, because the Senegalese squad – and its fans – are the beating heart and shimmering light of everything that is nice and good about the World Cup.

For starters, the side immediately won hearts with their infectious and truly wonderful training methods which included actual song and dance.

#SEN continue to innovate, with the most joyous training methods of any team at the #WorldCup. How can anyone root against them? pic.twitter.com/gOYw5g5nlm

— ⚽️ is a Country (@FutbolsaCountry) June 23, 2018

That already wonderful clip somehow gets even better when it’s set to the DuckTales theme song.

The Senegal warm-up is even better with Ducktales music. pic.twitter.com/4VvyxeyOC4

— Kristian (@vonstrenginho) June 25, 2018

The dancing didn’t end on the training pitch either.

They danced after scoring the second of their 2 goals against Poland.

Senegal dance after a second goal 2-0 #POLSEN pic.twitter.com/53sraVWNu7

— TimothyHollywoodKhan (@HollywoodKhan_) June 19, 2018

And they danced again with the fans after the final whistle blew.

Sudanese pp rejoice with senegal and we share some songs with this dance ???? #زنق????#SEN pic.twitter.com/qan0xiNzQa

— وداللواء.. (@alaaldin_hr) June 19, 2018

With this music many can now understand the dance performed by Senegal team after their win against Poland. #worldcup,#Russia2018. Congratulations #Senegal . pic.twitter.com/RTOP96UPic

— Lamoussa Gama (@LGama) June 20, 2018

Remarkable stamina from #SEN players. After overcoming #POL they still find the energy to engage in a collective dance, not once, but twice with both sections of their fans. pic.twitter.com/V8j7uqvR3s

— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) June 19, 2018

Their fans, too, are a wonderful lot, as it turns out. Firstly, for being some of the most outrageously enthusiastic and noisy fans of any nation in the World Cup.

These Senegal fans are making enough noise for the whole stadium! Absolute legends! ????????#POL #SEN #POLSEN pic.twitter.com/Q8ZaOGn3Ss

— COPA90 (@COPA90) June 19, 2018

Secondly, because they openly embraced fans of other nations without hesitation, even going so far as to bond with them through the majesty of anime.

Meilleure moment de la journée : chanter la musique de One Piece avec les Japonais après le match ???????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/IbQIqOJoVN

— Sulo (@JohnSulo) June 24, 2018

And thirdly, because instead of immediately swarming out of the ground and into the streets to celebrate a win, they took the time to help clean up the stadium instead.

How did Senegal fans celebrate after their team won their first match at the #WorldCup?

They cleaned up their entire section at the stadium.#Class #Senegal #Fans #WorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/segiV0jpO1

— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) June 19, 2018

The Senegal national team’s coach, Aliou Cissé, too, is worthy of adoration. Aside from being a snack-and-a-half, Cissé’s impassioned sideline celebrating caught the attention of viewers, partly for its fluid-yet-rigid movements, but mostly because it looks utterly badass.

Senegal's Aliou Cissé with one of the great World Cup coaching celebrations. You may meme this if you would like, internets. pic.twitter.com/zVkaWiotky

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) June 19, 2018

Aliou Cissé when Tony Meola talks like Senegal should just be happy to be here. pic.twitter.com/6qDzeWDvJB

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) June 19, 2018

Aliou Cissé is me when the DJ finally plays my song and then switches to the remix before the first verse even finishes. pic.twitter.com/FMoPHmlvxL

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) June 19, 2018

And then there’s their star player, Sadio Mane, who – when he’s not holding Liverpool supporter’s children in random Asdas…

Just in the Asda Hun pic.twitter.com/V8TyWFQNun

— Belinda McEyebrow © (@PissOffHon) September 23, 2017

…or copying teammates goal celebrations in hilarious fashion…

Sadio Mane loves to copy a celebration ????????????pic.twitter.com/VD8RhLdHvQ

— BigSport (@BigSportGB) February 16, 2018

…is spending his spare time giving back to his hometown community by casually financing the build of an entire school.

Stardom has never outshone Sadio Mane as he stays true to his roots. ????#WorldCup #SEN⁠ ⁠ pic.twitter.com/uecxNHSHSE

— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) June 28, 2018

Senegal is the greatest, and the World Cup is considerably worse off without them in it.

We love you, Senegal. We love you so much.

Image: Getty Images / Laurence Griffiths