Senegal’s World Cup exit
Senegal experienced a late defeat against Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, losing 3-2. This elimination follows a similar controversial exit from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final earlier in the year, leading to what some have described as a period of “football hell” for the team.
The match saw Senegal initially take a 2-0 lead with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr. Sarr’s goal, a second-half effort, involved him controlling a long ball and scoring past Thibaut Courtois. This goal brought Sarr’s total to four strikes at a World Cup, equalling Roger Milla’s African record from Italia 90.
However, Belgium initiated a comeback, with Romelu Lukaku scoring in the 86th minute to make it 2-1. Youri Tielemans then scored the equalizer in the 89th minute, a goal for which Senegal’s goalkeeper Mory Diaw was deemed to be at fault after rushing off his line. The decisive moment came in the 125th minute when Tielemans converted a penalty, securing Belgium’s 3-2 victory.
Controversial decisions and team reactions
The penalty awarded to Belgium was a point of contention, with Honduran referee Said Martinez agreeing with the VAR that Lamine Camara’s challenge prevented Tielemans from playing the ball. Senegal’s coach, Pape Thiaw, expressed his belief that there was no penalty, stating, “Our interpretation was that there was no penalty.” He added that while it is difficult, they must accept the decision.
The late defeat and the nature of the penalty decision drew parallels to Senegal’s Afcon final experience against Morocco. In that match, a controversial late penalty decision, following VAR intervention, also went against Senegal. Although Senegal initially won the Afcon final 1-0 in extra time, a Confederation of African Football appeal board later stripped them of the title two months later. That case is currently with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Senegal’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who was injured and unable to play in the World Cup match, was absent during this critical moment. His understudy, Mory Diaw, was beaten by Tielemans’ spot kick.
The team’s performance and tactical decisions by Pape Thiaw have faced criticism. Midfielder Pape Gueye, who scored Senegal’s Afcon final “winning” goal, announced he is taking a break from international football until Thiaw and his coaching staff are relieved of their duties. Gueye, a Villarreal midfielder, was substituted in the 66th minute against Belgium. Fans in Dakar also questioned Thiaw’s tactical choices, including the decision to withdraw Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye.
Krepin Diatta of Senegal expressed frustration, stating, “We shouldn’t have lost that match at that moment. The team lacked character.” He emphasized the need for the team to review their shortcomings and acknowledged that “The people deserve better.” This elimination is seen as a significant setback for Senegalese football, prompting a need for a rebuilding phase.
Pape Thiaw acknowledged the difficulty of the loss, stating, “It’s not easy to lose this kind of match. Unfortunately, it slipped away from us, but it’s football.” The coach, who has been in his role since December 2024, now faces a challenging period following these two significant tournament exits.
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Source: bbc.com
