Senegal thrashes Iraq 5-0 to stay alive in World Cup qualification race

Red card opens the floodgates

The decisive Group I encounter began ideally for Senegal, who struck within four minutes via Abdoulaye Seck’s header that deflected off Habib Diarra and into the net. Nine minutes later, the contest tilted heavily when Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka hauled down Sadio Mané as the forward bore down on goal. Referee Anthony Taylor, after a VAR review, showed a straight red card, reducing Iraq to ten men while Senegal still faced an uphill task, needing goals to erase their goal-difference deficit.

The Senegalese side, coached by Pape Thiaw, controlled possession but struggled to convert their numerical advantage before the interval. Mané and Ismail Jakobs both came close, but the half ended with only Diarra’s early strike on the board.

Five-star second half

The breakthrough came 11 minutes after the restart, when Lamine Camara’s feed found Ismaila Sarr, who slotted home from close range. Moments later, substitute Pape Gueye unleashed a curling shot from distance that arced into the top corner, making it 3-0. Gueye struck again in the 71st minute with another powerful finish, and Iliman Ndiaye capped the rout with a fifth goal in the 82nd minute, sending the Senegalese supporters into a frenzy.

Iraq’s resistance had long since collapsed; goalkeeper Jalal Hasan, who replaced the injured Ahmed Basil, could do little to stem the tide. The Asian side, appearing at only their second World Cup after Mexico 1986, finished the match without a shot on target of any real threat.

Slim qualification hopes

The result lifted Senegal to third place in Group I with three points and a goal difference of +2. Because the eight best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16, Senegal are provisionally in contention, though their fate depends on outcomes in other groups. Iraq, meanwhile, exited with zero points, echoing their winless debut in 1986.