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Never count out the Lions of Teranga. After consecutive opening losses to France and Norway left them pointless, Senegal entered their final Group I match in Toronto knowing they didn’t just need a win—they needed an absolute demolition.
They got it.
By routing Iraq 5-0 on Friday, Senegal made history. They became the first African nation to score five goals in a single Men's World Cup match. It was a merciless display of attacking clinical execution when everything was on the line.
Honestly, the equation was simple. With the expanded 48-team tournament structure, eight of the twelve third-place finishers advance to the round of 32. To put themselves in that mix, Senegal had to fix a terrible goal differential. They did exactly that, finishing group play with three points and a +2 goal differential. Now, they play the waiting game.
How Anthony Taylor and VAR Altered the Match
The match began with a blistering tempo at Toronto Stadium. Within four minutes, Habib Diarra put Senegal ahead, turning in an Abdoulaye Seck headed knockdown. The early breakthrough eased the immense pressure on the African giants, but the game's turning point arrived nine minutes later.
Sadio Mané broke clear. The Senegal captain looked certain to double the lead before Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka pulled him down from behind. It was a classic denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Referee Anthony Taylor originally pulled out a yellow card. The Senegal bench exploded. Moments later, the video assistant referee stepped in. After a long look at the monitor, Taylor correctly changed the yellow to a straight red.
Iraq were down to 10 men before the 15-minute mark.
To their credit, Iraq defended like crazy for the rest of the first half. They parked the bus, clogged the passing lanes, and kept the score to 1-0 at the break. But playing with a man down for over 75 minutes in a World Cup game eventually drains you.
The Second Half Floodgates Open
Whatever tactical adjustments Senegal made at halftime worked perfectly. The West African side stopped rushing their plays and used the width of the pitch to break down Iraq’s exhausted defense.
Ismaïla Sarr broke the resistance in the 56th minute. His close-range finish didn't just give Senegal breathing room; it was his fourth career World Cup goal, pushing him past the legendary Papa Bouba Diop as Senegal's top scorer in tournament history.
Then came the Pape Gueye show.
The Villarreal midfielder entered the pitch as a substitute and completely took over. In the 59th minute, Gueye caught a loose ball and launched a rocket from 20 yards out directly into the roof of the net. Twelve minutes later, he did it again. Another unstoppable long-range shot left the Iraqi keeper helpless.
Iliman Ndiaye finished the job in the 82nd minute. The Everton forward picked up a pass from Gueye and curled a beautiful, deep strike into the top corner from outside the box.
Five goals. Three points. A massive shift in goal differential.
What Happens Next for Senegal
Iraq are officially going home, finishing their first World Cup appearance since 1986 without a single point. Senegal, meanwhile, sit in third place in Group I. Because France beat Norway 4-1 in the other group fixture, both those teams are automatically through.
Senegal now sit fifth in the third-place rankings. With several groups still left to complete their final matches, the waiting is agonizing. If they hold onto a spot in the top eight of that third-place pool, a blockbuster knockout matchup against England could be on the horizon. They did everything they could on the Toronto pitch; the rest is up to the football gods.
