Coly - African football back on the map (Allsport)

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, Sendai

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Senegal's heroes hope their progress to the World Cup quarter-finals will continue to change people's perceptions of African football.

Not content with becoming only the second team from Africa to reach the last eight, following the trail-blazing path set by Cameroon 12 years ago, Senegal now want their own niche in the tournament's history.

No team from Africa has managed to seal a place in the semi-finals, with Cameroon ultimately beaten in extra time by England at Italia '90.

Despite such a defeat there were many - Pele among them - who claimed it would be only a matter of time before an African team would win the World Cup, but that time has yet to come.

Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia have all tried and failed to recreate the glory first accomplished by the inimitable Roger Milla and Co.

Now Senegal, from West Africa, a team which has captured the imagination and the hearts of the Far East fans, are just 90 minutes away from taking the next step African football craves.

Coach Bruno Metsu and his players have strived to point out their success so far has been for the people of Africa, rather than just the people of Senegal, and now the rest of the world is sitting up to take note.

Liverpool-bound Salif Diao, who will return to the side for the last eight clash with either co-hosts Japan or Turkey after completing a two-match ban, said: "I don't think we realise just what we are achieving.

"At the moment we are here just to play football games, but I think when we go back home, only then we will realise what we have achieved.

"I can't imagine what the celebrations will be like in Senegal when we return, they will be so big. But it will not only be in Senegal, it will be across the whole of Africa.

"That is because we are representing Africa more than we do Senegal. It's important to show that African football is changing and progressing, and we hope to be the first African team to reach the World Cup semi-finals."

Lens defender Ferdinand Coly feels African football is again back on the football map as Metsu's squad have surprised and delighted, in equal measure, all the way through the tournament.

"Beating Sweden was an incredible moment for Senegalese and African football," said Coly.

"Before the game nobody gave us a chance of reaching the quarter-final, but now it has come true, and we deserve to be there.

"We have played with a lot of passion in this tournament and because of what we have achieved, people can no longer say we are a small team. Senegal is now a big team.

"And who knows how far we can go, but first we have to find out whether we have to play Japan or Turkey."

Metsu is not afraid of facing fellow Frenchman Philippe Troussier's side and neither are his players.

Coly added: "I would prefer to play Japan because this is where the World Cup is being staged. To play against that team would be fantastic."