Senegal currently holds the record for 5th place among the 3rd place teams with a goal difference of +2.
Published June 26, 2026
Pape Gueye scored two sensational goals from long-range shots in the second half to give Senegal a 5-0 thrashing of Iraq and a much-needed increase in goal difference towards a place in the last 32 of the World Cup.
Iraq were unlucky to be reduced to 10 men in their final Group I game at Toronto Stadium on Friday.
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Ismaila Sarr added his third goal of the tournament and Teranga Lions scored their first of four goals after half-time, clinching a third place finish in the group with three points and plus two goal difference.
They currently hold the fifth-best record among the third-placed teams, although the four teams below them have yet to play their final group game.
Habib Diarra took the lead in the 4th minute with the score 11-11, and Iliman Ndiay equalized with his own long-range shot in the 82nd minute.
Iraq lost all three of their group stage matches, making them eliminated from the World Cup for the second time since 1986.
Any chance of scoring his first World Cup goal ended when referee Anthony Taylor sent off defender Levin Sulaka in the 13th minute for denying an obvious scoring opportunity.
Taylor initially brandished only a yellow card after Sadio Mane dribbled past Sulaka before Sulaka pulled him back with his outstretched arm. However, Taylor was called to the replay monitor and after watching the play one more time, he upped his decision.
Senegal remained frustrated for the remainder of the first half, unable to capitalize on their chances, but things changed after the first half.
Lamine Kamara set up Sarr’s goal in the 56th minute to start a second-half onslaught, forcing Iraq into a turnover in their own box, dribbling to the byline and cutting in a low cross for Sarr to open the scoring.
Gueye came in shortly after Sarr’s contribution and quickly made an impact of his own.
In the 59th minute, he received a pass from Sarr near the right corner of the box, dribbled to his left, curled his left foot and fired a shot past the diving Ahmed Bashir and into the top corner.
In the 71st minute, he ran onto Ndiaye’s rebounded feed and hit a spectacular half-volley. This gave Basil little time to move and he crashed into the back of the goal.
