<p class="title">Senegal face Japan tomorrow at the World Cup fired up by an "ignorant" tweet by a British tycoon and reality television star that has become the talk of the team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Along with Nigeria, a powerful Senegal side spearheaded by Liverpool striker Sadio Mane are flying the flag for Africa in Russia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After battling to a 2-1 opening win over Poland in Group H, Aliou Cisse's Senegal can take a major step towards the last 16 with victory over Japan in Yekaterinburg.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They unwittingly found themselves at the centre of a Twitter storm this week after businessman Alan Sugar tweeted a picture of the Senegal team with the caption, "I recognise some of these guys from the beach in Marbella".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Alongside the picture, the billionaire Briton posted images of sunglasses and handbags for sale.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Apprentice presenter took down the post and later apologised after being accused of racism, but the incident angered Senegal and could serve to further inspire them against Japan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ndongo Ndiaye, a former basketball player and now an adviser to Senegal President Macky Sall, told The Times at the team's base in Kaluga, south of Moscow: "Everyone here is talking about this tweet, it has made headlines in Senegal too.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think it is very ignorant from someone in his position," said Ndiaye, calling for Sugar to be sacked by the BBC.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Of course, there must be freedom of speech but this was wrong and it is hurtful to the players and people from Senegal."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Livewire forward Mane is Senegal's prime dangerman, but it was the raw pace and power of Mbaye Niang and a mistake by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny that clinched victory on Tuesday after Thiago Cionek's own goal put the Africans ahead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cisse and his men are now dreaming of a repeat of their run to the quarter-finals in 2002 -- he captained that team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Of course we represent our country but I can also guarantee that the whole of Africa is supporting us," said Cisse, the only black coach at the World Cup.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Weak second half?</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">A week ago, Japan -- who sacked Vahid Halilhodzic and brought in Akira Nishino as coach just weeks before the World Cup -- looked the easiest game in the group.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But a shock 2-1 win over Colombia made them the first Asian side to beat a South American team at a World Cup and will have infused the Japanese with badly needed belief.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In mitigation, Colombia played almost the whole game with 10 men after Carlos Sanchez was sent off on three minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Japan's attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda said on Friday they were wary of Senegal -- but could also see a major weakness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's going to be tough, they have great players. They're physical, they're fast and they'll play in front of a big crowd," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But I know the weakness of some African teams... You know, no one can play perfectly for 90 minutes, and African players especially lack concentration, particularly in the second half."</p>
<p class="title">Senegal face Japan tomorrow at the World Cup fired up by an "ignorant" tweet by a British tycoon and reality television star that has become the talk of the team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Along with Nigeria, a powerful Senegal side spearheaded by Liverpool striker Sadio Mane are flying the flag for Africa in Russia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">After battling to a 2-1 opening win over Poland in Group H, Aliou Cisse's Senegal can take a major step towards the last 16 with victory over Japan in Yekaterinburg.</p>.<p class="bodytext">They unwittingly found themselves at the centre of a Twitter storm this week after businessman Alan Sugar tweeted a picture of the Senegal team with the caption, "I recognise some of these guys from the beach in Marbella".</p>.<p class="bodytext">Alongside the picture, the billionaire Briton posted images of sunglasses and handbags for sale.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Apprentice presenter took down the post and later apologised after being accused of racism, but the incident angered Senegal and could serve to further inspire them against Japan.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Ndongo Ndiaye, a former basketball player and now an adviser to Senegal President Macky Sall, told The Times at the team's base in Kaluga, south of Moscow: "Everyone here is talking about this tweet, it has made headlines in Senegal too.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I think it is very ignorant from someone in his position," said Ndiaye, calling for Sugar to be sacked by the BBC.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Of course, there must be freedom of speech but this was wrong and it is hurtful to the players and people from Senegal."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Livewire forward Mane is Senegal's prime dangerman, but it was the raw pace and power of Mbaye Niang and a mistake by Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny that clinched victory on Tuesday after Thiago Cionek's own goal put the Africans ahead.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Cisse and his men are now dreaming of a repeat of their run to the quarter-finals in 2002 -- he captained that team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Of course we represent our country but I can also guarantee that the whole of Africa is supporting us," said Cisse, the only black coach at the World Cup.</p>.<p class="bodytext"><strong>Weak second half?</strong></p>.<p class="bodytext">A week ago, Japan -- who sacked Vahid Halilhodzic and brought in Akira Nishino as coach just weeks before the World Cup -- looked the easiest game in the group.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But a shock 2-1 win over Colombia made them the first Asian side to beat a South American team at a World Cup and will have infused the Japanese with badly needed belief.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In mitigation, Colombia played almost the whole game with 10 men after Carlos Sanchez was sent off on three minutes.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Japan's attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda said on Friday they were wary of Senegal -- but could also see a major weakness.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It's going to be tough, they have great players. They're physical, they're fast and they'll play in front of a big crowd," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"But I know the weakness of some African teams... You know, no one can play perfectly for 90 minutes, and African players especially lack concentration, particularly in the second half."</p>