'We have to wait for results' — Senegal hero speaks out as Lions sweat on World Cup 2026 fate

Having yet produced an charismatic show successful the 2nd half, Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0 successful Toronto connected Friday. What remains unclear is whether that emphatic triumph volition beryllium capable to unafraid their spot among the champion third-placed teams astatine World Cup 2026.

It took until the last 45 minutes of the last radical signifier lucifer — against an Iraq broadside reduced to 10 men from the 13th infinitesimal pursuing Rebin Sulaka's reddish paper — for Senegal to yet nutrient their champion shot astatine this World Cup.

While the opening play against France (1-3) had been of tenable quality, the Lions past turned successful a ragged show against Norway (2-3), and their archetypal fractional against Iraq had done small to reassure. Against the group's weakest side, and already up connected the scoreboard, Senegal were wholly incapable to use meaningful pressure. Lacking successful question and seemingly lacking successful tendency — paradoxical fixed the circumstances — they stumbled done their football, hardly capable to drawstring 5 passes together.

Senegal's second-half revival against Iraq

The Senegalese returned from the dressing country transformed, possibly shaken into enactment by manager Pape Thiaw astatine the break. Ibrahim Mbaye produced a bid of incisive runs down the flank, portion Lamine Camara showed tremendous committedness to tee up Ismaila Sarr for the 2nd goal.

The introductions astir the hr people of Pape Gueye — who struck doubly with the powerful, unerring long-range efforts that person go his trademark — and Iliman Ndiaye, who contributed a superb extremity and an assist, yet allowed Senegal to nutrient the show the juncture demanded against ten-man opponents: a broadside pressing relentlessly and laying siege to the absorption extremity successful the anticipation of improving their extremity quality to decorativeness among the champion third-placed teams astatine the tournament.

Senegal successful the waiting country for a last-32 place

Long awaited by supporters, this fightback astatine slightest had the merit of materialising. Whether it came excessively precocious remains to beryllium seen. Five World Cup groups person yet to instrumentality their verdicts, and Senegal indispensable present anticipation that astatine slightest 2 different third-placed sides decorativeness with a worse grounds than their ain (three points, +2). Scotland and South Korea person already been overtaken, but 2 much sides inactive request to autumn beneath them successful the standings. Should that not beryllium the case, this American World Cup would permission 1 of the continent's pre-tournament favourites nursing tremendous regrets.

'We were determined to amusement a antithetic broadside of Senegal — I deliberation that is what we did. Now we are successful a presumption wherever we person to hold for results' — Pape Gueye, speaking to beIN Sports aft the match. After specified a promising second-half display, immoderate elimination would beryllium each the much achy to bear.