Toronto: Senegal secures 5-0 victory over Iraq, boosting World Cup knockout stage hopes

By Bilal Ahmed

By Bilal Ahmed — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Senegal’s decisive victory

Senegal achieved a significant 5-0 victory against Iraq, enhancing their prospects of advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The match, played in Toronto, saw Senegal rebound from earlier defeats to France and Norway, delivering a strong performance that included two goals from substitute Pape Gueye.

The opening goal for Senegal came early, within four minutes of play. Habib Diarra, a midfielder from Sunderland, scored after a deflection from Abdoulaye Seck’s header following a corner. This quick start set the tone for Senegal’s dominant display.

Iraq’s challenges intensified just nine minutes later when defender Rebin Sulaka received a red card. The sending-off, which followed a video assistant referee review, was for pulling down Sadio Mane near the penalty area, deemed a denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Despite the numerical advantage, Senegal, managed by Pape Thiaw, did not register another shot on target in the first half, though Mane tested Ahmed Basil from the resulting free-kick.

Second-half surge and key goals

The second half saw Senegal capitalize on opportunities, extending their lead in the 56th minute. A mistake by former Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, who gave away possession outside his own box, allowed Lamine Camara to set up Ismaila Sarr for a simple finish, making the score 2-0.

Just three minutes later, Pape Gueye, who had recently entered the game, scored his first goal with a left-foot strike into the top corner. The Villarreal defensive midfielder then added his second goal in the 71st minute with another powerful effort. Fellow substitute Iliman Ndiaye sealed the 5-0 win for Senegal, a result they hope will be sufficient for progression.

Iraq’s goalkeeper, Ahmed Basil, who was replaced by Hassan due to knocks, faced numerous attempts on goal. Hassan made several saves in the second half, preventing Senegal from reaching a double-digit score, as described in match commentary. Mane also hit the post in the 75th minute, further highlighting Senegal’s attacking pressure.

Implications for knockout stage qualification

With this victory, Senegal finished third in Group I with three points, placing them fifth among the third-placed teams. Their advancement to the last 32, however, remains dependent on results from other matches. Coach Pape Thiaw’s side needed a substantial win to improve their goal difference, which is crucial for their chances of progressing.

Iraq, on the other hand, had also lost their initial two Group I games to France and Norway, who secured the top two spots and advanced. Despite their coach Graham Arnold’s belief that they still had a chance, the 5-0 defeat meant Iraq bowed out of the competition. The team had been expected to face difficulties against the European sides in their group.

Prior to the match, Senegal had been considered a team with the potential for a deep run in the World Cup, but successive defeats had put them on the verge of elimination. Their 3-1 loss to France and a 3-2 defeat to Norway, where mistakes proved costly, highlighted their need for a comprehensive win against Iraq. The team had also faced reports of administrative issues, which coach Thiaw stated had been resolved before the Norway game.

The significant win against Iraq provides Senegal with a strong goal difference, which could be a deciding factor as they await the conclusion of the group stage to confirm their place in the last 32.

Source: bbc.com