Cruel end for Senegal in Seattle at World Cup

Senegal's World Cup dreams were shattered in a heart-wrenching 3-2 extra-time loss to Belgium, a result coach Pape Thiaw described as a "cruel game." The team held a comfortable 2-0 lead with just minutes remaining in regulation, only to see Belgium equalize with two goals in a three-minute span. A late penalty in extra time sealed Senegal's fate.

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Senegal coach Pape Thiaw described football as a "cruel game" after his side's late collapse and eventual defeat by Belgium following extra time in the World Cup round of 32 on Wednesday.

Defender Krepin Diatta expressed the team's disappointment, stating, "We were determined to write some beautiful pages in the history of our football in this World Cup, and we have to accept that we failed in this mission." He added, "Given what we offered, we shouldn't have lost this match." The late collapse saw Senegal lose focus, a stark contrast to their earlier dominance.

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We believed that there was no penalty. The players tried to challenge the decision. It's their right. And then the penalty was taken - and this is the reason why we are now eliminated.

The match was not without controversy. Senegal had faced scrutiny before the tournament after being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title due to a protest involving a penalty decision. On Wednesday, players were visibly upset when a penalty was awarded to Belgium following a lengthy VAR review for a sliding challenge. "We believed that there was no penalty," Thiaw said. "The players tried to challenge the decision. It's their right." He concluded, "And then the penalty was taken - and this is the reason why we are now eliminated."

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It was Senegal's game to lose with a 2-0 lead in the 85th minute. However, a football match is not an 85-minute one. Belgium came back, and we were not able to deal with that.

Belgium will now advance to face the winner of the United States-Bosnia match.

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We were determined to write some beautiful pages in the history of our football in this World Cup, and we have to accept that we failed in this mission. Given what we offered, we shouldn't have lost this match.