SENEGAL PROVE AFRICA'S WORTH AS THEY BEAT POLAND IN THEIR 2018 WORLD CUP OPENER!!!

An own goal from Thiago Cionek and M'Baye Niang's first strike for Senegal earned Aliou Cisse's side a 2-1 victory in Group H.

Senegal upset Poland with a 2-1 Group H victory in Moscow that owed plenty to poor mistakes from the European nation.

Poland were widely expected to qualify for the knockout rounds but after suffering a seventh loss in their last nine World Cup matches, FIFA's eighth-ranked team are in danger of making an early exit.

Thiago Cionek's own goal, the defender deflecting in a shot from Idrissa Gueye, handed Senegal the lead in the 37th minute.

Senegal doubled their lead when M'Baye Niang took advantage of a mix-up between Grzegorz Krychowiak and Wojciech Szczesny to finish with ease.

Adam Nawalka's side set up an exciting finish when Krychowiak somewhat made amends for his error by heading home a Kamil Grosicki free-kick, but they could not find a late leveller.

Poland will need to make amends when they take on Colombia - who surprisingly lost to Japan on Tuesday - while Senegal have qualification for the next phase in their sights.