African champions Senegal open their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign with a Group A fixture against three-time runners-up the Netherlands, who are back at the finals for the first time since finishing third in 2014.
The Dutch are at the Qatar 2022 with the same head coach, Louis van Gaal, who led them in Brazil 2014.
This game, which is numerically, Match Number 2 at Qatar 2022 will be first encounter ever between both countries and will hold at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha 5pm Nigerian time, but 7pm here in Qatar.
Senegal were quarter-finalists on their FIFA World Cup debut in 2002, beating defending champions France 1-0 in the opening match.
Their three victories in two finals appearances have all come against European opponents.
The Netherlands are appearing at the World Cup for the 11th time. They are undefeated in their last 13 World Cup group-stage encounters, winning the last six, and have never lost their opening group match, winning six and drawing two.
But Sports Village Square observes that Senegal have started their tournament with a win in each of their previous two World Cups.
The first being their famous triumph over France in 20 years ago and another 2-1 victory against Poland in their first group game at Russia 2018.
Aliou Cissé is the coach of Senegal for their second successive World Cup. He also captained the nation in 2002 in their only other appearance at the finals.
The Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 15 international matches, winning 11 and drawing four.
All these were achieved since Louis van Gaal was appointed coach in August 2021.
Their last defeat was against Czech Republic in June 2021 at UEFA EURO 2020.
The Netherlands have only ever lost two out of 30 group-stage matches at the FIFA World Cup (this includes first and second group stages).
The only teams to have defeated the Dutch in group matches are Scotland in1978 and Belgium in1994).
The Netherlands have not lost their opening game at a FIFA World Cup final competition since 1938, when they were defeated in the first round by Czechoslovakia.
Their opening match record since then is six victories and two drawn matches.
At the age of 71 years and 105 days, Louis van Gaal will be the third oldest coach in World Cup history when he takes charge of the Netherlands in this match.
