Bigged up Senegal

Five things we have learned about the final round of games in Group A.

Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

• That we can’t resist a corny joke. Libya, who are nicknamed the Mediterranean Knights, have joust been eliminated.

• Zambia coach Hervé Renard has only packed white shirts and jeans. He was out in the combo again as Zambia beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 to top Group A.

• Equatorial Guinea are not performing like a team lodging at 151 in the FIFA world rankings. If home support can have such an exhilarating effect, it becomes easier to understand why England’s FA carped so much about missing out on hosting the world cup.
  

• Senegal were vastly overhyped. Described as one of the best of the outsiders for the title, they came to the games boasting a troika of predators: Moussa Sow from Lille, Demba Ba from Newcastle United and his soon to be teammate Papiss Demba Cissé. The trio procured only one of Senegal’s three goals. Is it safe for them to fly back to Dakar on Tuesday before returning to their clubs in France and England?

• Zambia captain Christopher Katonga is a spiky terrier. He goes round the pitch getting into snarls and scuffles with all and sundry – midfield handbags is hardly the picture of a seasoned skipper. Calm down Chris, your team needs you.