World Cup 2026: Senegal Thrash 10-Man Iraq 5-0 To Keep Knockout Dreams Alive
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
Senegal produced one of their most commanding performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to defeat 10-man Iraq 5-0 on Friday night, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.
The Lions of Teranga entered their final Group I fixture knowing that only victory would preserve their slim chances of progressing after back-to-back defeats in their opening two matches. Iraq faced the same scenario, but the contest quickly swung in Senegal’s favour as they capitalised on an early numerical advantage to record an emphatic win.
Senegal made the perfect start by taking the lead in just the fourth minute. From a well-delivered corner kick, Habib Diarra reacted quickest inside the penalty area to force the ball over the line and hand his side an early breakthrough.
The game took a decisive turn six minutes later when Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off for a reckless challenge. Referee Anthony Taylor initially cautioned the defender with a yellow card, but after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), he reviewed the incident on the pitch-side monitor before upgrading the punishment to a straight red card.
Reduced to ten men for more than 80 minutes, Iraq struggled to cope with Senegal’s relentless attacking pressure as the African side dominated possession and dictated the tempo throughout the encounter.
Despite creating several opportunities before the interval, Senegal had to wait until the 56th minute to double their advantage. Ismaila Sarr seized on a defensive error before calmly finishing from close range to make it 2-0.
The goals continued to flow as Pape Gueye struck just three minutes later, unleashing a powerful effort that crashed in off the inside of the right post to extend Senegal’s lead.
Gueye completed his brace in spectacular fashion in the 71st minute with a stunning first-time strike from the edge of the penalty area, leaving the Iraqi goalkeeper with no chance as Senegal moved 4-0 ahead.
The five-star performance was capped in the 82nd minute when Iliman Ndiaye collected a pass outside the area and curled a superb effort into the top-right corner, sealing an emphatic victory for the Lions of Teranga.
The convincing triumph breathes new life into Senegal’s World Cup campaign, although their fate now rests on results elsewhere as they await confirmation of whether they will progress as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
For Iraq, the heavy defeat brings their World Cup journey to a disappointing conclusion. Having lost all three group matches without collecting a single point, they exit the competition after a difficult campaign, while Senegal can still dream of extending their stay on football’s biggest stage.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
