International round-up: Kouyate leads Senegal to Luxembourg draw

Kouyate senegal

West Ham United midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate played the full 90 minutes for Senegal on Thursday, as the African nation continued their preparations for the 2018 World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Luxembourg. 

Kouyate, captain of the Senegalese international team, featured at centre-back for his country in a friendly at the Stade Josy Barthel. 

Although Senegal enjoyed the majority of possession and the better chances, Kouyate and his teammates were unable to break down their hosts, resulting in a goalless encounter. 

Senegal will play Croatia in another friendly next Friday, ahead of this summer's World Cup, and head into the game unbeaten in their last eight matches. 

In the only other international match to feature a West Ham player on Thursday, Domingos Quina played for Portugal U19s as they were beaten 3-2 by Japan U21s in the Toulon Tournament. 

Domingos Quina

Luis Silva had put the Portuguese side ahead on 32 minutes, but the game was levelled at half-time thanks to a Kyosuke Tagawa strike.

Jota seemed to have secured the result for Quina and his teammates on 77 minutes, but Japan got the win with a double from Ayase Ueda. 

The result is the first time that the Portugal U19s has lost a game since their defeat to England U19s last July, a run that lasted ten contests and included eight wins.