DOHA (Reuters) – Qatar play Senegal in the World Cup in Doha on Friday.
When: Friday Nov. 25, 1600 local (1300 GMT/ 0800 ET)
Where: Al Thumama Stadium
Capacity: 40,000
Odds:
Qatar win: 5/1
Senegal win: 8/13
Draw: 13/5
Key stats:
* Both teams lost their first game, with Qatar falling 2-0 to Ecuador for the first ever loss by a host country in the opening match and Senegal to Netherlands by the same score.
* The game in Al Thumama stadium will be a meeting between the current Asian and African champions.
* Regional governing bodies CAF and the AFC have previously organised two intercontinental tournaments together, one for the continents’ club sides and the other for national teams.
* Senegal shocked the world by reaching the quarter-finals 20 years ago on their first World Cup appearance in Japan and South Korea. A 16-year wait to return to the finals followed but at Russia 2018 their hearts were broken as they were eliminated in the group stage by Japan on a fair play tiebreaker.
* Qatar hope to avoid becoming the fourth World Cup hosts eliminated in the first round at the finals after Switzerland, Chile and South Africa in 1954, 1962 and 2010 respectively.
Previous meetings:
This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
(Reporting by Shady Amir; Editing by Ken Ferris)
