Inside The Qatar 2022 World Cup So Far

Twenty-four hours after the kick-off of the first-ever winter World Cup, African Champions the Taranga Lions of Senegal lost their opening game to the Oranje of Netherlands at the Al Thumama 40,000 capacity stadium.

The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup began on November 20, 2022, with an elaborate ceremony that featured American-veteran actor Morgan Freeman, BTS star Jung Kook, and Qatari Youtube sensation Ghanim al-Muftah.

Qatar made their first World Cup appearance against Ecuador shortly after the opening ceremony. However, they lost to an attack-focused team, becoming the first World Cup host to lose an opening game. Enner Valencia netted twice to win the game after the referee ruled out one as an offside in the first half.

African champion, Senegal, took on the Netherlands in a fierce encounter until an 85-minute goal by PSV striker, Cody Gakpo, ended the tie. In the last minute of the match, Ajax’s midfielder Davy Klaassen scored the second goal, ending Senegal’s hope of equalising.

Senegal’s first debut in the World Cup was in 2002, when they became the second African country to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup.

With four shots on target, the Taranga Lions missed the presence of their talisman, Sadio Mane, who had to bow out of the tournament due to injury.

“We are disappointed to have not scored. We had two or three great chances,” Aliou Cisse told reporters after the match. “Ismalia and Krepin are responsible there, but of course, the absence of Mane is a problem for us,” he said.

After the Senegal match, the action turned to the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium where Wales battled the United States in group B. Gareth Bale who signed with Los Angeles FC in June 2022, captained Wales to their first World Cup appearance since 1958.

Before halftime, Timothy Weah finished Christain Pulisic’s assist to put the USA in front. After eight years of World Cup drought, the Gregg Berhalter side was eager to take the maximum point, but a late strike from 33-year-old Gareth Bale levelled the scores.

Leeds United midfielder, Tyler Adams, 23, who became the youngest player to wear the armband for a US team at the World Cup since Walter Bahr in 1950, said that the focus is now on the next game on Friday, where they will face England.

“We have to keep our heads held high. We go away with a point and have to focus on the next game now.”

The games continue on all the dedicated SuperSport Channels. World Cup Central, DStv channel 202, will air the World Cup live matches in English commentary, while World Cup Naija, DStv channel 203, will air the live games in Pidgin English, Yoruba, and Hausa commentaries.

Also, DStv Channel 204, the World Cup Fan Zone, will be a fan-dedicated channel. DStv channel 205 World Cup Select 1 will be an access package channel for 30 of the 64 matches in Pidgin English, Yoruba, Hause and Igbo commentaries. Lastly, DStv channel 206 World Cup Select 2 will be the access package channel for 30 of the 64 games in English commentary.

To be a part of the ongoing YaQatar discount, DStv subscribers can pay 14,900 for a decoder and dish to get a month-free subscription on the DStv compact package. Also, GOtv subscribers can pay 6,900 for a decoder and ‘gottenna’ to get a one-month free subscription on the GOtv max package.

There you have it! Enjoy the best of the DStv YaQatar experience from the comfort of your home. The live coverage is open to DStv customers on Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Confam and Yanga customers and for GOtv customers on Supa, Max, Jolli and Jinja packages.

For more information about the World Cup, visit www.dstv.com or follow DStv Nigeria on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.