Kalidou Koulibaly (No.3) of Senegal competes for the ball during the World Cup match against Ecuador on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. Photo: VCG

Kalidou Koulibaly sent Senegal into the World Cup knockouts for just the second time in their history with the winner in ­Tuesday's dramatic 2-1 win over Ecuador.

The Netherlands' dominant victory over Qatar meant only a win would see African champions Senegal through to the knockouts from Group A, while Ecuador would have progressed with a draw.

Senegal opened the scoring through Ismaila Sarr's penalty late in the first half, but despite managing to keep Ecuador captain Enner Valencia quiet throughout, Moises Caicedo leveled in the 67th minute before Koulibaly sent his team through and Ecuador home with his first international goal.

"This was a special day for Senegal, all Senegalese football won today," Koulibaly said on television after the game.

"I'm glad I scored this goal, it's a huge honour for me."

Senegal coach Aliou Cisse promised before the game his experienced side "would not overthink" the occasion and it was the Lions of Teranga who opened the game furiously, with Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye lashing the ball just wide of an open goal after only three minutes. 

Less than a minute later, Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez needed to bail out his side's high backline, sliding in to stifle a counter well outside his box. 

On the 10-minute mark, Senegal's Boulaye Dia found himself one-on-one with Galindez, but he cut the ball just wide of the post.

Seemingly sparked into life by Senegal's fierce opening, Ecuador pushed forward and won a free kick 30 meters from goal, with the South Americans taking the opportunity for a rare breather before Valencia slammed the ball into the wall.  

After the furious opening ­exchanges, both sides began to settle and the first half looked set to end goalless before Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie clattered into Sarr, ­giving referee Clement Turpin no choice but to point to the spot. 

Sarr stepped up and coolly dispatched a fine spot kick past Galindez, maintaining eye contact with the keeper as the ball went in. 

Ecuador started the second half fresher and more determined, ­perhaps reassured that the Netherlands' dominance over Qatar meant they only needed a draw to go through.

From a free kick, defender Felix Torres rose high to head the ball on to Caicedo, who was waiting at the far post and slammed the ball home. 

Senegal struck back immediately and in almost identical fashion, with Koulibaly lurking unmarked at the far post following a free kick which was deflected into his path by Hincapie.

Koulibaly said he would give the family of late Senegal great Papa Bouba Diop's his man-of-the-match award.

Tuesday was the second anniversary of Diop's tragic early death following a long illness.

Koulibaly also paid tribute to Senegal's 2002 World Cup hero by having Diop's No.19 written on his captain's armband.

Diop scored the winning goal in the stunning 1-0 triumph over France in the opening game of that ­tournament 20 years ago, helping Senegal reach the quarterfinals.

"Today is the anniversary of his death, I will give his family the trophy in his honor," Koulibaly told reporters.

"We knew the anniversary of his death was something very important, for his family.

"We wanted to pay homage to him, he made me dream when I was a boy.

"We knew we wanted to play in his honor, this wasn't something we were going to let slip.

"It was important for us as a team to make our families and Papa's family proud."