Senegal made history by becoming the first African team to score five goals in a single World Cup match, securing a commanding 5-0 victory over a depleted Iraq side in their final Group I encounter on Friday. The standout performance was powered by a remarkable double from Pape Gueye, who inspired his team to a dominant win that keeps their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout rounds.
With this emphatic triumph, Senegal not only celebrated a record-breaking achievement but also significantly improved their chances of qualifying for the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams. Currently, they hold the superior goal difference among the teams sitting on three points, positioning them favorably for progression. Meanwhile, Iraq’s tournament ended in disappointment as they failed to earn any points after a challenging qualification journey.
The match opened with Senegal applying pressure early on. Habib Diarra managed to sneak a crucial touch to Abdoulaye Seck’s header from a corner kick, marking his first international goal since a friendly against England the previous year. This early breakthrough set the tone for Senegal’s relentless attack.
Early Red Card Shifts Momentum
Iraq’s fragile aspirations took a severe hit shortly after the opening goal. Defender Rebin Sulaka, newly introduced into the starting lineup by coach Graham Arnold, was dismissed after just 13 minutes. The Anglais referee Anthony Taylor issued a red card following a VAR review, ruling that Sulaka had fouled Senegal’s key attacker Sadio Mane when the forward was clear on goal. This dismissal marked the earliest red card of the tournament’s nine so far and stands as the fourth fastest in World Cup history.
Down to ten men, Iraq struggled to create any offensive opportunities for the remainder of the first half. Even with a numerical advantage, Senegal managed only a narrow miss when Ismail Jacobs unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that just went wide. The momentum, however, was clearly in favor of the African side, setting the stage for their historic goal haul in the second half.