Sénégal-Irak (5-0) : Les tops et les flops
Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0 in their third World Cup 2026 qualifying match. The Lions did what they could, hoping for positive results (a draw or a win) from Spain (against Uruguay) and Egypt (against Iran). Here are the highs and lows of the match.
The tops
Pape Guèye
A dazzling entrance, exemplified by his two thunderous goals that secured Senegal's victory. Beyond his two goals, he injected life into the Lions' play and injected some much-needed energy into a midfield that had been lifeless in the first half.
Ismaila Sarr
One goal, one assist, and the title of Senegal's all-time leading scorer at the World Cup. With this match and his second-half performance against Norway, Ismaila Sarr demonstrated that he is better suited to playing centrally than on the right wing. Even if his game wasn't spectacular, he allowed Senegal to extend their lead by bursting forward at the near post like a true number 9 and was one of the few players to press high up the pitch. It was, in fact, through his aggressive runs that he won the ball back on the wing to set up Pape Gueye for Senegal's third goal.
The flops
The first period
A goal in the 3rd minute, a red card for Iraq in the 10th, and then... nothing! That sums up Senegal's first half. For 45 minutes, Senegal played without determination, without ideas, without any control. Their counter-pressing was nonexistent despite their numerical advantage, and their transitions were far too slow for a team that needed to improve its goal difference. It was as if Senegal were playing with 10 men against 11 Iraqis.
Ibrahim Mbaye
Called for and given a starting place, the 18-year-old failed to make his mark on the match. Facing a compact Iraqi defense, he was repeatedly thwarted by Doski and Akam. He also displayed some clumsiness, misjudging his dribbling. Despite a very difficult game, he did manage to find Sadio Mané with a beautiful through ball, which the star player squandered. Immediately after his substitution, Senegal shifted into high gear and overwhelmed Iraq.
Commentaires (34)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté :
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.