Felix Sanchez insists Qatar exit at World Cup group stage would not be failure

Hosts fell to second defeat in row at finals when they lost 3-1 to Senegal on Friday

Famara Diedhiou celebrates after scoring Senegal's second goal in their 3-1 win over Qatar in the World Cup Group A match at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, on November 25, 2022. AFP

Bamba Dieng scores Senegal's third goal. Reuters

Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy makes a save. EPA

Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham is beaten by the grounded Famara Diedhiou's header that put Senegal two up. AFP

Qatar's Ismail Mohama after a missed chance in the second half. Getty

Famara Diedhiou's header hits the back of the net to make it 2-0 to Senegal. AP

Famara Diedhiou is chased by Senegal teammates after scoring their second goal. Getty

Mohammed Muntari heads home for Qatar to make it 2-1. Getty

Senegal's Boulaye Dia scores in the first half. AFP

Senegal's Boulaye Dia past Qatar goalkeeeper Meshaal Barsham. Reuters

Senegal's Boulaye Dia celebrates with teammate Nampalys Mendy after scoring. AFP

A shot flied just wide of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy's goal. Reuters

Senegal's Ismaila Sarr after barging over Akram Afif, but no penalty was given. AFP

Qatar's Akram Afif appeals for a penalty. AFP

Qatar's Akram Afif and Hassan Al-Haydos appeal for a penalty with Spanish referee Antonio Mateu. AFP

Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham attempts to clear the ball. AFP

Qatar manager Felix Sanchez said the World Cup hosts should not be labelled a failure if they are eliminated from the tournament at the group stage.

The hosts, competing in their first global finals, sit on the verge of an early exit from their home event following Friday's 3-1 defeat to Senegal at Al Thumama Stadium.

Coming off the back of an opening loss to Ecuador, Qatar’s chances of emerging from Group A were left hanging in the balance.

Sanchez’s side, the current Asian champions, were anxiously waiting on the result from the Netherlands against Ecuador later on Friday. With only the Dutch still to face, on Tuesday, Qatar could become the first World Cup hosts to fail to win a single game.

Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Ecuador rendered the team the first home nation in tournament history to lose their opening game.

Speaking to reporters following the Senegal defeat, when Mohammed Muntari made history by scoring the country’s first goal at a global finals, Sanchez said: “We are aware of how tough this competition is. We wanted to go far, but we know we had limitations as a country.

“It's a small country, not a very large population. The local league is not a very competitive one. It's our first time at the World Cup. If we can take part again, that would be great. It's always useful to get more experience.”

Sanchez added: "When you come here you need to know where you're coming from [as a country]. If this is a failure and disappointment, that depends on expectations. Our goal was to be competitive. We've been working for so many months to be able to give a good performance.”

On whether the current group of players, who at the Asian Cup three years ago landed a first major international title, had reached the end of a cycle, Sanchez disagreed.

However, he said: "We have some young players and more experienced players. Our goal is very clear: we will have a generational shift. Some players will leave, others will come.

“We might have new players at the Asian Cup next year; some players cannot play at their best for such a long time. But it's not the end of a cycle.”