Ecuador waved goodbye to the 2022 World Cup on Tuesday afternoon, losing 2-1 to Senegal at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. The South American side would have qualified for the round of 16 had they avoided defeat, but they fell at the final hurdle after a promising Group A start.
Senegal’s Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring with a first-half penalty kick, and while Ecuador drew level in the second half through Moises Caicedo, Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly scored the crucial winner just minutes later.
It was the first win of an African team against a South American opponent since Cameroon beat Colombia in the 1990 World Cup round of 16.
Coach Gustavo Alfaro made two changes to the side that managed a famous 1-1 draw against the Netherlands on Friday, reverting to a four-man defense that saw Jackson Porozo and Jhegson Méndez make way for midfielders Carlos Gruezo and Alan Franco.
While Ecuador knew that a draw would have been enough to qualify, the game began at a fast pace, with both sides looking to create chances and score.
Senegal had the best opportunity early on, when striker Boulaye Dia blazed his shot wide of goalkeeper Hernán Galindez’s right-hand post, squandering a promising opportunity.
Ecuador struggled to stay in the first half, however, giving up possession far too easily to their African opponents.
Just before half-time, Ecuador fell behind after center-back Piero Hincapié clattered Ismaila Sarr in the penalty area. French referee Clément Turpin had no hesitation in blowing for a spot kick, which Sarr dispatched coolly.
At half-time, both of Ecuador’s new faces Gruezo and Franco were hooked, and the more attack-minded midfielders José Cifuentes and Jeremy Sarmiento came in to replace them. Cifuentes recorded Ecuador’s first shot on target just three minutes into the second half, forcing a save from Edouard Mendy with an effort from the edge of the area.
It was then Senegal’s turn to sit back and try to protect the result, and Ecuador got their all-important equalizer in the 66th minute, when Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo tapped the ball into an empty net after a well-worked corner kick.
But Senegal were back in front almost immediately, as captain Kalidou Koulibaly scored after a set-piece, in one of their few forays forward in the second half up to that point.
Ecuador finished Group A in third place on four points, after a win over Qatar and 1-1 draw against the Netherlands.
But all is not lost for Ecuador — the current national squad is young and peppered with precocious talent and players playing in Europe’s top leagues. They will hope to return stronger for the 2026 tournament.
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