England fell to a surprise 3-1 defeat against Senegal in an international friendly at the City Ground, Nottingham, marking a disappointing end to their summer schedule just a year before the World Cup.

Despite taking an early lead through Harry Kane, the Three Lions were second-best for much of the match as Senegal responded with an assured and clinical performance.

Kane’s seventh-minute strike – his fourth in four games under new manager Thomas Tuchel – seemed to set England on course for a positive night.

However, Senegal slowly grew into the game, equalizing just before the break when Ismaïla Sarr converted after a sharp assist from Nicolas Jackson. England struggled to regain momentum and were punished further in the second half.

Habib Diarra put the visitors ahead on 62 minutes with a composed finish from Kalidou Koulibaly’s pass, capitalizing on England’s slack defending.

England had a chance to level late on through Jude Bellingham, who found the net in the 83rd minute, only for the goal to be disallowed following a VAR review that spotted a handball by Levi Colwill in the build-up.

As England pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time, their poor execution from a free-kick allowed Senegal to counterattack.

Cheikh Sabaly finished off the move with a third goal in the 93rd minute, sealing a historic win – Senegal became the first African nation to beat England in a senior men’s fixture.

The final whistle was met with boos from the home crowd, highlighting growing concerns about the team’s form under Tuchel.

Former England defender Lee Dixon criticized the team’s lack of urgency and decision-making, calling the performance emblematic of their recent struggles.

With England now facing a break of nearly three months before their next match, pressure will mount on Tuchel to address the squad’s disjointed displays.

Meanwhile, Senegal can take pride in a confident and well-earned win that will boost their preparations ahead of international competitions.