Senegal Crushes Iraq 5-0 in World Cup Thriller, Sets African Record

Senegal kept their 2026 World Cup aspirations alive with a resounding 5-0 victory against Iraq in Toronto on Friday. After suffering two consecutive defeats in their opening matches, the Lions of Teranga delivered their most convincing performance of the tournament, revitalizing their chances of reaching the Round of 16.

The match began with an early goal in the 4th minute from Habib Diarra, who capitalized on a corner kick. While Senegal established early dominance, Iraq maintained a disciplined defense for a significant period. The game's turning point came in the 13th minute when Iraqi player Rebin Sulaka was sent off with a direct red card for a foul on Sadio Mané, reducing Iraq to ten men.

Despite the numerical advantage, Senegal struggled to convert their dominance into further goals in the first half. However, the second half saw a dramatic shift. Lamine Camara's recovery of the ball led to Ismaïla Sarr scoring the second goal in the 56th minute. Shortly after, substitute Pape Gueye scored a spectacular curling shot from outside the box in the 59th minute, followed by another powerful half-volley twelve minutes later, completing his brace and electrifying the crowd.

Iliman Ndiaye added a fifth goal with a long-range strike in the 82nd minute, capping off Senegal's dominant display. This historic win makes Senegal the first African nation to score five goals in a single World Cup match. For Iraq, the loss means elimination from the tournament without securing any points. Senegal now awaits the outcomes of other group matches to determine their fate in the competition.

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Pape Gueye, the spark from the bench: Senegal crushes Iraq and keeps hope alive.