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Abayomi Ademola
Senegal boosted their hopes of reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stage with a convincing 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq in their final Group I match in Toronto.
The Teranga Lions came into the game needing a convincing win after opening losses to France and Norway, and they delivered emphatically to become the first African nation to score five goals in a World Cup match.
Habib Diarra gave Senegal a perfect start with an early goal before Iraq’s task became even more difficult when defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off in the first half.
Despite Iraqi resistance before the break, Senegal took full control in the second half. Ismaila Sarr scored his third goal of the tournament before Pape Gueye unleashed a stunning long-range shot to put the result beyond doubt.
Gueye added his second goal of the match with another powerful finish, while Illiman Ndiaye capped the dominant display with a brilliant solo goal late on.
The victory leaves Senegal with a positive goal difference of +2 and significantly improves their chances of advancing to the round of 32 as one of the best third-place finishers in the tournament.
In the group’s other match, France secured first place with a 4-1 victory over Norway inspired by a Ousmane Dembélé hat-trick. France finished with nine points, Norway qualified in second place with six points, while Senegal now awaits the results of other groups to determine their fate.
