Reigning CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal provided their tournament aspirations with a much-needed lifeline on Sunday, February 18, after an unimpressive start to their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

The African champions started nervously, losing 6-4 to Belarus in their first game. However, they proved their strength by coming back to defeat Colombia 5-3 on Sunday in their second Group C match.

Senegal’s encouraging win places them second in the group, level on three points with Japan, with whom they will square off in a thrilling match that will determine second place and advancement to the competition’s knockout stages.

The in-form Mandiane Diagne, who scored a brace against Belarus, Papa Ndoye, Raoul Mendy, Ousseynou Faye, and Mamour Diagne, was responsible for Senegal’s goals.

Egypt, meanwhile, lost their second group match of the game to Italy 6-2, shattering any hopes they had of going farther in the competition.

On the first day of the competition, the North Africans lost 2-1 to the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, and needed at least a point to maintain their hopes.

When they play USA on Monday, they plan to exit the competition with a bang.