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Senegal crushed Iraq 5-0 on Friday at BMO Field in Toronto, wrapping up the group stage of the , and earned a spot among the eight best third-placed teams in the tournament to advance to the Round of 32.
The match started with speed: H. Diarra opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and the dynamics changed forever when R. Sulaka (Iraq) received a red card in the 13th minute, leaving his team with ten men for nearly the entire match.
With their numerical superiority, Senegal dominated with 69% possession and amassed 27 shots, 11 of which were on target, compared to only six Iraqi attempts, with just one on goal.
Ismaila Sarr extended the lead in the 56th minute to make it 2-0. One minute later, the Senegalese coach made three simultaneous substitutions, and one of the newcomers, Pape Gueye, became the standout player of the afternoon: he scored in the 59th minute and again in the 71st to make it 4-0.
Iliman Ndiaye sealed the match in the 82nd minute with the fifth goal, achieving the in World Cup history.
The final standings of Group I left France in first place with nine points (a perfect record), Norway in second with six points, and Senegal in third with three points, a goal difference of +2, and eight goals scored, which was enough to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams in the tournament.
Iraq, which returned to the World Cup for the first time since Mexico 1986 —four decades of absence— ended its participation with zero points, one goal scored and 12 against in three matches, thus being eliminated.
Senegal entered this match after losing its first two games: 3-1 against France and 3-2 against Norway with a brace from Haaland, so they needed a big win to have hopes of continuing in the tournament.
The format of the 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, allows for the eight best third-placed teams from each group to advance to the next round, and Senegal took advantage of that opportunity with a strong performance.
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