Senegal Routs Iraq to Keep Knockout Hopes Alive
- Philip Fox
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Credit Opta Analyst
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
While most eyes were focused on the star-studded clash between Norway and France, a more consequential match unfolded between Senegal and Iraq. The result would determine which team finished third in the group. Having both fallen to France and Norway earlier in the tournament, Senegal and Iraq entered the match knowing a victory could prove crucial in the race to advance as one of the tournament's best third-place teams.
Senegal fielded a familiar starting XI in their final group-stage match, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation. Mory Diaw started in goal behind a back four of Krépin Diatta, Abdoulaye Seck, Moussa Niakhaté, and Ismail Jakobs. The midfield trio featured captain Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lamine Camara, and Habib Diarra, while Ibrahim Mbaye, Ismaïla Sarr, and former Liverpool star Sadio Mané led the attack. Pape Thiaw managed Senegal.
Iraq also deployed its strongest available lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Ahmed Basil Fadhil started in goal behind defenders Frans Putros, Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashem, and Merchas Doski. Zidane Iqbal and Amir Al-Ammari anchored the midfield, while Ahmed Qasem, Ali Jasim, and captain Ibrahim Bayesh supported striker Ali Al Hamadi. Graham Arnold managed Iraq.
Senegal wasted little time asserting control. In the fourth minute, a corner kick was delivered into the penalty area, where Habib Diarra rose above the defense and powered a header into the right side of the net to give Senegal an early 1-0 lead.
Iraq's situation worsened in the 11th minute when Sadio Mané collected a loose ball and broke toward goal. Defender Rebin Sulaka grabbed Mané's shirt and brought him down from behind. Following a lengthy VAR review, the referee determined that Mané had been denied a clear goalscoring opportunity and issued Sulaka a straight red card in the 13th minute, leaving Iraq to play with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Senegal continued to dominate possession and chances throughout the first half. They entered halftime leading 1-0 while holding 58 percent possession and recording 10 shots, though only two were on target. Iraq managed four shots but failed to test Diaw.
At the break, Iraq replaced goalkeeper Fadhil with veteran Jalal Hassan, but the Senegalese pressure finally paid off again in the 55th minute. After Iraq failed to clear another Senegalese attack, Lamine Camara recovered the loose ball and fed Ismaïla Sarr, who calmly dribbled into the box and slotted his finish into the net to double Senegal's advantage.
Only moments after the restart, Senegal struck again. Iraq quickly surrendered possession, allowing Senegal to launch another attack. The ball found Idrissa Gana Gueye, who fired home to make it 3-0 and effectively put the match out of reach.
Gueye added another goal in the 71st minute. After the ball bounced around the penalty area, Iliman Ndiaye headed it toward the top of the box, where Gueye met it with a powerful left-footed strike that found the back of the net for Senegal's fourth goal of the afternoon.
The duo combined once more in the 82nd minute. This time, Gueye provided the setup, sending Ndiaye forward from midfield. Ndiaye carried the ball to the edge of the box before unleashing a right-footed shot that soared into the upper-right corner, completing the scoring and sealing a dominant 5-0 victory.
By the final whistle, Senegal had controlled 69 percent of possession and outshot Iraq 28-6, including a 12-1 advantage in shots on target. The emphatic win significantly boosted Senegal's hopes of advancing as one of the tournament's best third-place finishers.
At the conclusion of the match, Senegal sat fifth in the best-third-place standings, with three group-stage matches remaining to determine the final qualifiers for the knockout rounds.
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