Senegal is the seventh African team out of ten representatives to progress to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 following their 5-0 thrashing of Iraq and Egypt’s stalemate with Iran.
The Lions of Teranga put on a five-star show at the Toronto Stadium, ensuring that they not only secured the maximum points they needed but also significantly improved their goal difference.
The 2025 AFCON finalists’ night got off to a perfect start when Habib Diarra nodded in a corner kick from Abdoulaye Seck in the fourth minute. Iraq’s terrible afternoon was further dented by a red card eight minutes later after Rebin Sulaka brought down Sadio Mane, who was through on goal.
Despite the numerical advantage, Senegal couldn’t extend their lead nearly one hour into the contest, which only heightened the nerves. However, Ismaila Sarr poked the Lions of Teranga into a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute.
Three minutes later, substitute Pape Gueye netted a stunning goal from outside the box, curling the ball into the top corner, before unleashing a thunderbolt in the 71st minute to get Senegal’s fourth.
Iliman Ndiaye wasn’t going to leave all the spotlight to Gueye, scoring a belter from even further to add the icing to the cake at 82 minutes.
For the first time in FIFA World Cup history an African team scored five goals in a match. Senegal finished third in Group I with three points, behind France and Norway, who amassed nine and six points, respectively, after the former beat the latter 4-1.
Tunisia already eliminated.
Senegal’s qualification for the last 32 was confirmed after Egypt’s 1-1 stalemate vs. Iran at the Seattle Stadium on Saturday morning. The goals came early in this contest with Mahmoud Saber breaking the deadlock for the Pharaohs after five minutes before Ramin Rezaeian drew parity in the 14th minute.
A missed penalty and disallowed goal in the 11th and 96th minutes, respectively, sneaked Senegal into the knockouts as they joined Egypt, who had already qualified before kickoff.
Belgium finished joint-top of Group G with Egypt on five points but edged them on goal difference after walloping New Zealand 5-1.
Egypt’s qualification for the knockouts, along with Ghana’s, became certain before they kicked a ball thanks to events in Group H, where Cabo Verde defied all the odds to qualify for the last 32.
The debutants held Saudi Arabia to a goalless draw, earning their third point, finishing second and remaining unbeaten despite facing Spain and Uruguay too. Spain topped the standings with seven points after beating Uruguay 1-0, leaving the latter and Saudi Arabia with only two points.
Egypt, Ghana, Cabo Verde, and Senegal have joined Morocco, South Africa, and Ivory Coast in the knockouts, bringing the total of African teams that have qualified to seven.
South Africa will face co-host Canada; Morocco will lock horns with the Netherlands, while Ivory Coast will go head-to-head with Erling Haaland’s Norway. Elsewhere, Egypt will battle it out with Australia, while Cape Verde will have to endure the defending world champions Argentina and Lionel Messi.
D.R. Congo and Algeria, who face Uzbekistan and Austria, respectively, on Sunday morning, remain in contention to qualify, while Tunisia are already out.
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