Senegal Become First African Side To Defeat England

England succumbed to their first defeat to African opposition as they were beaten 3-1 by Senegal in an international friendly at the City Ground.

In England's previous 21 matches against African nations, the Three Lions had won 15 times and drawn six, Opta said.

They came close to losing to Tunisia in 1990, before Steve Bull rescued a 1-1 draw with an 89th-minute equaliser against Tunisia in a friendly before the World Cup.

England then had to overcome Cameroon in extra time at Italia 90, edging them out 3-2 in the quarter-finals.

The last time England were beaten by a country from another continent for the first time had been in 2003, when they were defeated 3-1 at Upton Park by Australia.

Thomas Tuchel had been looking for a response following England's uninspired 1-0 win over Andorra on Saturday but they were deservedly beaten in Nottingham as Senegal recovered from Harry Kane's early goal against the run of play to turn the game around.

Ismaila Sarr capitalised on Kyle Walker's sluggishness to level just before half-time and Habib Diarra ran away from Morgan Gibbs-White to find himself wide open in the right channel to put the ball between Dean Henderson's legs soon after the hour mark.

England did have chances to equalise, with Edouard Mendy making fine stops to keep out Gibbs-White and Bukayo Saka, before substitute Jude Bellingham had a goal disallowed for a handball by Levi Colwill - a debatable decision late in the game.

Any doubt over the result was ended when Noni Madueke's poor free-kick in stoppage time allowed Senegal to break and they countered expertly, Youssouf Sabaly finishing calmly beyond Henderson to secure this historic win. England departed to boos.

Another tough night for Tuchel

"We need to improve, for sure. We have not clicked yet." Those were Tuchel's words in the build-up. Well, there was little sign of anything clicking against Senegal. Henderson, the goalkeeper, actually impressed given the number of saves he was forced into.

England have endured disappointing results in these June fixtures before - it is not so long ago they lost 4-0 at home to Hungary in the Midlands - but Tuchel can take little comfort in that given he is trying to build towards next summer's World Cup.