World Cup 2026: Kylian Mbappe hails Senegal as France brace for 2002 revenge storyline

France captain Kylian Mbappe has described Senegal as “a great team” as both nations prepare to open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Tuesday, June 16.

The Group I encounter revives memories of one of the tournament’s most shocking results, when Senegal stunned defending champions France 1-0 in the 2002 World Cup opener in South Korea.

That match, Senegal’s first ever at a World Cup, produced an iconic upset that still echoes through football history.

Diop’s historic strike and France’s collapse in 2002

The decisive moment came in the 30th minute when the late Papa Bouba Diop bundled the ball home from close range after a scramble inside the French penalty area.

That single goal not only sealed a famous victory but also triggered one of France’s most disappointing World Cup campaigns. The reigning champions failed to score a goal and exited at the group stage.

Senegal, meanwhile, rode the wave of momentum, embarking on a remarkable run that took them all the way to the quarter-finals in their tournament debut.

The result remains widely regarded as one of football’s greatest World Cup shocks.

Mbappe acknowledges history ahead of high-stakes clash

Speaking to French television channel M6, Mbappe reflected on both the challenge and the narrative surrounding the fixture.

“The World Cup is full of exciting matches, we’re playing against the African champions, I don’t even know if it’s them or not (laughs) since Morocco is also playing. We’ll stay out of that (laughs),” the Real Madrid forward said, as quoted by Wiw Sport.

He added that the fixture carries added significance due to its historical backdrop.

“It’s great to start like this. We can’t deny that there’s a history between France and Senegal, so there’s a history that will make this match something more exciting. It’s going to be great.”

Mbappe also highlighted the importance of beginning the tournament strongly, particularly with the match scheduled for prime-time viewing in France.

“The match is at 9pm in France, the children won’t be in bed yet, so it’s up to us to start well. It can allow us to dispel any initial doubts because there will be anxiety among quite a few people, not among us, but among some. It will also give us those 3 points.”

France arrive as one of football’s modern heavyweights, having won World Cups in 1998 and 2018, and finishing runners-up in 2006 and 2022.

Senegal, by contrast, continue to build their reputation as one of Africa’s most consistent performers, qualifying for the tournament in 2002, 2018, 2022 and now 2026.

Giresse backs Senegal to challenge elite

Former Senegal coach Alain Giresse believes African nations are closing the gap on global football’s elite and insists Senegal have the quality to go deep into the tournament.

“I think that from one World Cup to the next, Africa is moving forward and progressing. As you said, it was Morocco that reached the semi-finals in the last edition in Qatar,” he said.

“With ten qualified countries, the possibility of taking even more nations to the semi-finals exists; we have to take it one step at a time.”

Giresse went further, suggesting that Senegal’s ceiling could stretch beyond the quarter-final barrier they reached in 2002.

“I think that one day, an African country will play in the final. If we’re talking about Senegal, it has the potential to at least reach the semi-finals.”

He emphasised the growing competitiveness of African sides on the world stage, pointing to a broader shift in global football balance.

“We see that African teams are increasingly displaying a level that is approaching the top and the best rankings in the world,” he noted.

“Beyond Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, and even the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can achieve great results. In any case, if these countries are there, it’s because they are among the best nations in Africa.”

Senegal look to repeat history as fixtures await

Senegal’s most celebrated World Cup achievement remains their debut run in 2002, when they stunned France and reached the quarter-finals.

This time, they will also face Norway on June 22 at the same New York New Jersey Stadium before concluding their group campaign against Iraq at Toronto Stadium on June 26.