Story perspectives

Senegal Thrashes Iraq 5-0, Keeps Third-Place Hope

6/27/2026

Summary

Senegal Beats Iraq

Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 in Toronto, keeping its third-place knockout hopes alive.
Coach Pape Thiaw said the win is secured but Senegal now relies on other results.
Habib Diarra (4’), Ismaila Sarr (56’), Pape Gueye (59’, 71’) and Iliman Ndiaye (83’) scored after Rebin Sulaka’s 13th-minute red card, giving Senegal a third-place finish with three points, a +2 goal difference and fifth place among the eight best third-placed teams.

Summary

Senegal Confronts Turmoil

Goalkeeper Édouard Mendy will miss the Iraq match after medial ligament damage on Monday.
Coach Pape Thiaw has been criticised for using youngsters Iliman Ndiaye and Ibrahim Mbaye.
Defender Kalidou Koulibaly, out since April with a thigh injury, started both defeats.
Unpaid bonus claims, a contract renewal and catering problems have been reported inside the Senegal camp.
Players, including Koulibaly, say they will ignore the rumors and concentrate on football.

History

Historical Context

In 2002, Bruno Metsu led Senegal to a historic World Cup debut, beating defending champions France and finishing the group with five points before a quarter-final loss to Turkey. The upset, driven by striker El Hadji Diouf, exposed injury concerns, prompting CAF to later improve medical protocols and player-payment policies that shape Senegal’s current campaigns.

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Senegal Beats Iraq

Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 in Toronto, keeping its third-place knockout hopes alive.
Coach Pape Thiaw said the win is secured but Senegal now relies on other results.
Habib Diarra (4’), Ismaila Sarr (56’), Pape Gueye (59’, 71’) and Iliman Ndiaye (83’) scored after Rebin Sulaka’s 13th-minute red card, giving Senegal a third-place finish with three points, a +2 goal difference and fifth place among the eight best third-placed teams.

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