For the Malaysian football team, which is ranked 171 in the world below St Lucia - an island spanning 617km and with a population less than 200,000 - qualifying for the World Cup remains a distant dream. 

However, local football fans, except leaders and supporters of BN, can find some consolation in knowing that at least the PKR flag made it to the 2018 finals in Russia.

A photograph has been circulating on social media showing Senegal's coach Aliou Cisse looking up to the heavens for divine inspiration as his team faced Poland yesterday.

In the backdrop, a PKR flag can be seen tied to the steel barrier at Moscow's Spartak stadium. Further to the right, there appears to also be a Malaysian flag.

PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad posted the photograph on his Twitter account, with the caption: “Who is this Malaysian? Seated at the front row.”

In the Group H match, Senegal became the first African nation to win a match in the 2018 finals after defeating Poland 2-1.

Group H also consists of Japan and Colombia.

Senegal is scheduled to face Japan over the weekend while Poland will take on Colombia on Monday.

Japan defeated Colombia 2-1 yesterday. The South American team was reduced to 10 men in the third minute after Carlos Sanchez Moreno was given the marching orders.