Senegal Stuns Iraq 5-0 to Keep World Cup Knockout Hopes Alive

Senegal secured a decisive 5-0 victory over a 10-man Iraq side at Toronto Stadium on Friday, significantly bolstering their chances of advancing to the Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup. The Lions of Teranga dominated the match from the early stages, with Habib Diarra opening the scoring in the fourth minute. The Iraqi squad struggled after defender Rebin Sulaka was dismissed in the 13th minute for a professional foul on Sadio Mane, an incident confirmed by the referee after a VAR review. The win provides Senegal with a crucial plus-two goal differential, positioning them as a strong contender among third-place finishers in the group stage.

After a scoreless middle period, Senegal capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half, adding four goals to seal the thrashing. Ismaila Sarr extended the lead in the 56th minute, followed by an impressive display from Pape Gueye, who scored two long-range stunners in the 59th and 71st minutes. Iliman Ndiaye completed the scoring in the 82nd minute with another long-range strike, ensuring a comprehensive result. The victory ends Iraq’s tournament run, as they conclude their first World Cup appearance since 1986 without a single point in the group stage.

Senegal finishes their Group I campaign with three points, maintaining hopes of survival depending on the outcomes of upcoming matches in other groups. As one of the top third-place teams currently, they await the conclusion of other group-stage fixtures to determine if their goal difference is sufficient for qualification. This performance marks a significant recovery for the African side, providing much-needed momentum after earlier challenges in the group, while Iraq prepares to reflect on a difficult campaign on the world stage.