Senegal lit up the World Cup stage on Friday night, producing a performance that will live long in the memory.
The Lions of Teranga became the first African side to score five goals in a single World Cup match, sweeping aside Iraq 5–0 in their final Group I game.
The hero of the night was Pape Gueye, whose two stunning strikes in the second half sent Senegalese fans into wild celebration.
His goals weren’t just about flair — they kept Senegal’s hopes alive of reaching the last 32 as one of the best third‑placed teams, thanks to their superior goal difference.
The match began with a spark. Habib Diarra flicked Abdoulaye Seck’s header into the net for his first international goal, giving Senegal an early lead.
Iraq’s fragile campaign unravelled minutes later when defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off after just 13 minutes for hauling down Sadio Mané. The red card, one of the earliest in World Cup history, left Iraq with a mountain to climb.
Senegal pressed but couldn’t find a breakthrough before halftime. Iraq’s goalkeeper, Ahmed Basil, was forced off injured, replaced by Jalal Hassan, who initially held firm.
But the dam broke in the 56th minute when Ismaila Sarr punished a mistake by Zidane Iqbal, calmly tapping home his third goal of the tournament.
Then came Gueye’s moment. Barely two minutes after coming on, the Villarreal midfielder unleashed a curling strike from distance that left Hassan rooted.
Twelve minutes later, he struck again with a ferocious half‑volley, a goal that had fans on their feet and Iraq’s coach Graham Arnold shaking his head in disbelief.
The rout was complete when Iliman Ndiaye smashed in a late screamer, sealing a five‑goal triumph that carried both joy and relief for Senegal.
Iraq, meanwhile, bowed out of the tournament empty‑handed, their long road to qualification ending in heartbreak.
For Senegal, this was more than just a win. It was a statement of resilience, of pride, and of belief that their World Cup dream is still alive.
