"You could have been a world champion." Kalidou Koulibaly hears this all the time. He was born in France but chose to play for his parents' homeland. "I want to write the story of the future of SenegalA country in west Africa with a population of 17 million. football."

Yesterday afternoon, Koulibaly began writing that story. His volley against Ecuador took Senegal to a 2-1 victory in their final match of the group stage. For only the second time in history, the country is through to the knock-out stage.

An African country has never won the world cup. But despite losing their star striker Sadio Mane to injury, Senegal are now "one of the favourites", according to former French champion Frank Leboeuf.

They have already beaten the odds. The West African country is the poorest nation playing in Qatar. The country ranks 170 out of 191 in terms of health, education and income.¹

But has Senegal risen to football greatness despite or because of poverty?

The country's name may come from the Portuguese word for a tribe that lived north of the Senegal river. Combined with the Gambia, it makes up the continent's second-largest river basin. For centuries, trade and empire flourished along its banks.

As the most westerly point in Africa, Senegal became a key location for the Atlantic slave trade. Just off the coast from the capital Dakar lies Goree island. Here, some historians believe thousands of enslaved Africans passed through a "door of no return" to be shipped to the Americas.²

In the 19th Century, Senegal became a French colonyAn area or country under the control of another nation. . As a result, French is the official language. But the Senegalese speak over 30 other tongues, including the lingua francaFor example, Latin was the common language of the Roman Empire, French was the language of the European aristocracy and English has become the working language of international finance., Wolof.

Senegal is a stable and democratic country. Known as the Land of Teranga - "good hospitality" in Wolof - it attracts almost half a million tourists yearly to its historical sites and nature reserves.

But 75% of families live in chronic poverty.³ Most depend on fishing and farming for their livelihood and are vulnerable to climate change. In the north, desertificationThe process through which fertile land is lost to drought or human activity. is turning farmland into dust. A huge tree-planting project called the Great Green Wall plans to stop the desert's growth.

In football, money isn't everything. For years, poorer Latin American teams have beaten richer European nations. Senegalese journalist Wahany Sambou says this "tough background" teaches footballers to seize opportunities. So perhaps Africa will be next?

Yes: The beautiful game does not need fancy stadiums. It is played in poor backstreets and dusty scrubland all over the world. There, footballers develop the skill and passion to win.

No: Street skills only take you so far. In the last four world cups, teams from Western Europe won ten out of the top twelve places.

Or... Money matters but so do other factors. Senegal benefits from homegrown talent and stars trained abroad.

Senegal - A country in west Africa with a population of 17 million.

Colony - An area or country under the control of another nation.

Lingua franca - For example, Latin was the common language of the Roman Empire, French was the language of the European aristocracy and English has become the working language of international finance.

Desertification - The process through which fertile land is lost to drought or human activity.