Watford hero Ismaïla Sarr is set to feature at his second World Cup finals later this month, having been named in Senegal’s final 26-man squad for the 2022 tournament.
The 24-year-old forward featured on three occasions during his national side’s Russia adventure four years ago, starting each of the three group games - against Poland, Japan and Colombia - as the Lions of Teranga finished third in Group H.
A year after his World Cup bow, Sarr completed a deadline-day transfer to Watford from French outfit Rennes, and in the three years since he has accumulated over 100 appearances in yellow and scored 30 goals – including six so far this season.
Having netted six times during his debut season at Vicarage Road - including a brace in the memorable 3-0 win against runaway champions Liverpool - Sarr scored 13 times on his way to the Hornets’ Player of the Season award for 2020/21, as the club secured immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
Besides scoring five goals in 22 top-flight appearances last term, back on the international stage Sarr helped Senegal claim the Africa Cup of Nations title for the first time earlier this year, after having fallen to Algeria in the 2019 final last time out.
Sarr and the rest of Aliou Cissé’s team - which features nine other players based in England - will be hoping to build on the momentum gained at AFCON on football’s biggest stage, and match or better their quarter-finals exploits in 2002.
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On their third appearance at the World Cup finals, Senegal face a tough test against the Netherlands in their first match in Group A (Monday November 21, 4pm KO GMT), before playing hosts Qatar (Friday November 25, 1pm KO GMT) and Ecuador (Tuesday November 29, 3pm KO GMT).
Senegal could face either England or Wales in the last 16 should they progress from the group stage, with the winners of Group A playing the Group B runners-up on Saturday December 3 (3pm KO GMT), and the Group A runners-up due to meet the Group B winners on Sunday December 4 (7pm KO GMT).
Good luck, Ismaïla!
