Sheffield United vs Coventry City

UTB 15
to be and how proud I was to be
representing Senegal at a major
competition. It hit me properly in
the build-up to the game against
the Netherlands, I was at a World
Cup, I was so excited, focused
and determined to take my
opportunity if it came, thankfully
it did and hopefully I did myself
justice.”
mum and sisters were on the
phone all the time wishing me
good luck. All my family were so
happy and proud as they knew it
was a dream come true for me.”
UTB: Have you yet had chance
to fully appreciate exactly what
you have achieved in these
last few weeks, it still must feel
surreal as we speak?
IN: “Obviously I was so happy
to be going to the World Cup,
but I didn’t realise just how big
the competition was going to be
until I came to set off after the
Cardiff game when it all became
real for me. It was a bit of going
into the unknown, but once
I met the squad and got there
I knew just how big it was going
UTB: How did it feel when
you got the nod that you were
coming on against Qatar and
your subsequent starts against
Ecuador and England?
IN: “The butterflies in my
stomach were something I’d
never felt before or during a
game, I was just thinking this is
my time now, what an opportunity
I had and the hard work and
dedication had paid off for me.
I came on and got a crucial assist
and that settled the nerves
straight away. We needed that
third goal to make sure of that
win as it was 2-1 at the time and
with the crowd behind them, they
could have snatched an equaliser
that would have made qualifying
for the knockout stages much
tougher. Starting against Ecuador
in what was a must-win game was
a big boost and to play against
England was an amazing feeling.
It was just incredible to overcome
all the nerves to play on the
biggest stage, but once you are
on the pitch it is just playing the
game you love.”
UTB: On another day, do
you feel the last 16 tie against
England could have gone in the
favour of Senegal?
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs COVENTRY CITY