El Hadji Malick Diouf

Internationals | Diouf nets first Senegal goal, Irving’s Scotland World Cup-bound

El Hadji Malick Diouf was on the scoresheet for his country for the first time as Senegal claimed a thumping 8-0 friendly victory over Kenya on Tuesday.

Les Lions de la Téranga had far too much for their opponents, with Diouf's strike making it 2-0 with just 13 minutes on the clock in Türkiye.

Nicolas Jackson had already opened the scoring, before he netted another, Sadio Mané struck a hat-trick and Ibrahim Mbaye and Cherif Ndiaye completed the rout.

Diouf and Senegal's attentions will turn to the Africa Cup of Nations at the turn of the year.

Lucas Paquetá came off the bench to earn his 61st senior Brazil cap as Carlo Ancelotti’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in a friendly.

Tunisia took a shock early lead through Hazem Mastouri, who finished off a quick counter attack in the 23rd minute.

Brazil then hit back before the break when Chelsea’s Estêvão netted a penalty to send the sides in level.

Paquetá was introduced just after the hour mark and had the opportunity to give his side the lead from the spot himself, but could not hit the target and Brazil had to settle for a draw.

Elsewhere, Hammers duo Andy Irving and Mads Hermansen were unused substitutes on opposing sides for Scotland’s crunch FIFA World Cup qualifier against Denmark in Glasgow.

Scotland went into the Hampden Park contest needing victory to claim an automatic spot in next summer’s finals tournament, while a draw would have sufficed for the visiting Danes.

It looked as though they would be the ones celebrating when Patrick Dorgu drew the scores level at 2-2 with nine minutes to play.

But a brace of spectacular stoppage time strikes by Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean ensured a 4-2 final scoreline and a first World Cup appearance for Scotland since 1998. Denmark will now head to a play-off.

At Under-21 level, Mateus Fernandes started as Portugal maintained their three-point lead over Czechia at the top of UEFA U21 European Championship qualifying Group B, with a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

Neither side was able to make a breakthrough in Hradec Králové as Portugal reached the halfway stage of the ten-game qualifying process with 13 points to their name.

A spot in the 2027 finals in Albania and Serbia awaits the group winners.
 

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