Pua resigned after Tuesday's game (Allsport).

By David Anderson, PA Sport, Suwon

Click here for Victor Pua facfile

Senegal's 3-3 draw with Uruguay might have earned the West Africans a place in the second round of the World Cup finals but it ultimately cost Victor Pua his job as coach of the South Americans.

Pua, known as the Fat Man by his players, resigned following his side's elimination in Suwon.

The South Americans were knocked out after only drawing 3-3 when they needed a win to progress.

"With this match, an era ends. It's my decision," said Pua after announcing his decision to retire.

Hugo de Leon, who last season coached Montevideo giants Nacional, is the favourite to take over.

Pua took over the national team in early 2001 following the resignation of former Argentina captain Daniel Passarella - after success coaching in Uruguay's youth set-up.

He secured the country's first World Cup ticket since 1990 with a fifth-placed finish in the South American qualifying and a play-off win over Australia.

But defeat to Denmark in their opening game meant they were always likely to struggle to reach the second round.

A 0-0 draw with holders France, however, offered new hope but that seemingly disappeared as Senegal raced into a three-goal first half lead.

Uruguay stormed back and pulled level but were unable to score the winner in the final minutes.

The performance of Manchester United's Diego Forlan - who scored in Tuesday's game after being left out of the starting line-up for Uruguay's first two games - may have pointed to where Pua went wrong.

Liverpool's new striker El Hadji Diouf claims Senegal do not now fear playing England in the last 16.

Senegal finished second to Denmark in Group A and will now face the winners of England's group in Oita on Sunday.

A defiant Diouf, set to join Liverpool in an £11.5million move from Lens, insists they are not worried about the possibility of facing England after beating France in their opening match.

He said: "Why should we be afraid going into the last 16? It's nothing to be afraid of.

"We have already shown in this competition we can play and beat the best European teams, like France.

"We will keep playing to our strengths, attacking our opponents. We won't show any fear whether we play against England or Argentina.

"It will be a massive match and we will be playing against one of the best teams in the world.

"I'm not worried because I can't choose the next team we face.

"It will be very special for me if we play England, the country I will be playing in next year.

"Above all I feel proud for Africa and Senegal and this is an historic day for us and a dream come true."

Defender Alassane Ndour echoed Diouf's bellicose talk and said: "Whether it's England or Argentina it's no problem for us.

"France were the champions at the last World Cup and we beat them so it's no problem for us.

"In the next round every country will be good. English football is very hard and very quick.

"Argentinian football is more technical and I think they are two different football styles for us.

"Senegalese football is on the up. We have Diouf and [Salif] Diao who are going to England and they will want to show the English that they can play football."

Diao returns for the second round after being suspended for the Uruguay game, while Khalilou Fadiga is banned after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament.

If England do play Senegal, they can take heart from the way the West Africans almost plucked defeat from the jaws of victory against Uruguay.

Indeed had Uruguay's Richard Morales not missed a golden chance to win the game in stoppage time, it would be the South Americans rather Senegal England would be viewing as potential opponents.

Senegal led 3-0 at half-time through a highly dubious penalty from Fadiga on 20 minutes and two goals from the scourge of France, Papa Bouba Diop, on 26 and 38 minutes, although there was more than a hint of offside about his second goal.

At that point Uruguay needed to score four goals to qualify at Senegal's expense.

Substitute Morales launched their comeback when he scored inside the first 20 seconds after half-time.

Then Forlan managed to do what he has been unable to do for Manchester United when he scored a cracking volley on 69 minutes before Alvaro Recoba converted another highly contentious spot-kick on 88 minutes.

In stoppage time Morales headed wide with the goal at his mercy, Uruguay were out and Senegal were through to the last 16 in their first World Cup.

Pua was unhappy with referee Jan Wegereef, who booked 12 players, and his award of Senegal's penalty and their third goal.

"We were a little bit the victim in this match of the referee, but I don't think it's just his fault and that doesn't explain why we're going home," he said.

"I think we're going home because we had to play three very strong teams."