Ecuador sit level on points and goal difference with the Netherlands at the top of Group A and need only to avoid defeat against Senegal today to secure a last-16 place. “(I can) see an evolution — a big evolution — from the teams,” Alfaro told a pre-match press conference.
“Before there was a very marked difference between the favourites and the rest, but suddenly we are seeing evenly matched games. “This is how growth works — the growth of Asian football, African football, South American football.”
Ecuador cruised past hosts Qatar 2-0 in the World Cup curtain raiser, before drawing with the Netherlands 1-1 despite outplaying the European giants for much of the match.
The South Americans will top the group if they avoid defeat and better the Netherlands’ result against Qatar. They have only once before reached the knockout phase, losing 1-0 in the last 16 to England in 2006 when David Beckham scored a free-kick.
“One of the strengths of Ecuador is that we were able to transform the things we need to transform,” said Alfaro.“We needed to grow up.
“We kept our physical skills and our natural skills, but we knew we needed to do things differently, because there are other national teams that are doing things better than us.” Star striker and captain Enner Valencia, who has scored each of Ecuador’s three goals in Qatar, is struggling with a knee injury but Alfaro expects him to play.
“He has a knee sprain but he has a big heart and he wants to be in every battle for our national team.” Alfaro, 60, promised the team would “try and play the best World Cup in Ecuadoran history”, while emphasising his side’s “great future” in the game. “We respect the pecking order, but we do not need to be fearful. We are creating our own pathway.”
FACTBOX
Ecuador vs Senegal
When: Today, 6pmWhere: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan Capacity: 45,857
Key stats:
Senegal must win to ensure they earn a place in the last 16, though a draw may be enough if Qatar beat the Netherlands by two goals or more.A draw will see Ecuador advance, while they could still go through in defeat if Qatar get a big enough win over Netherlands..
Ecuador’s last six goals at the World Cup, all scored in the 2014 and 2022 tournaments, have been netted by forward Enner Valencia. He has three in this campaign and is comfortably his country’s all-time leading scorer at the global finals ahead of Agustin Delgado (3 goals).
Ecuador are playing in their fourth World Cup with aspirations to surpass their previous best performance when they reached the last 16 in Germany in 2006.
Senegal reached the World Cup quarter-finals on debut in 2002 but were eliminated in the group stage on fair play points in their second visit in 2018 when they finished level with Japan.
Senegal have met South American opposition twice at the World Cup. They drew 3-3 with Uruguay in 2002 and lost 1-0 to Colombia in 2018.
Ecuador have never faced an African nation at the finals.