Senegal crushes 10-man Iraq 5-0, stays alive in World Cup last-16 race as one of best third-placed teams

Dominant display despite early advantage

Senegal struck in the 4th minute when Lamine Camara’s corner found Abdoulaye Seck, whose header was diverted into the net by Habib Diarra. Iraq’s task became harder in the 10th minute: defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off for a last-man foul on Sadio Mané after a VAR review. Yet the Lions of Teranga struggled to capitalise before the break, with Mané and Ismaïla Sarr missing chances and Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil keeping them at bay.

Second-half surge seals the rout

After a wasteful first half, Senegal stepped up. Sarr latched onto a loose ball following a turnover by Zidane Iqbal and tapped in the second goal in the 56th minute. Substitute Pape Gueye then scored with a ferocious strike into the top corner three minutes later, added a second in the 71st minute, and the young forward Ndiaye completed the 5-0 scoreline with another top-corner finish in the 82nd minute.

Group I finale: Senegal waits

This was the final matchday in Group I. Earlier, France beat Norway 2-0 to top the group with a perfect nine points, while Norway finished second with six. Senegal, with three points and a goal difference now at –3, sit third and must hope that their tally is enough to rank among the top eight third-placed sides, which would send them to the last 16. Norway will face Ivory Coast in the next round, while France meets Sweden.

The best-third equation

Senegal’s five-goal margin lifted them above Scotland and South Korea among teams that have already completed their group campaigns. Five groups have yet to play their final fixtures, meaning the Senegalese must wait and see if they stay inside the qualifying spots. A group-stage exit would be a major setback for the African champions, who had targeted a deep run.