Senegal kept their FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout-round hopes alive on Tuesday with a commanding 5-0 demolition of 10-man Iraq in their final Group I fixture, making history as the first African nation to score five goals in a single World Cup match.

Going into the game, the Teranga Lions faced an uphill task. Back-to-back defeats against France and Norway had left Senegal needing a heavy victory to have any realistic chance of advancing as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the tournament.

Diarra fires the perfect start

Habib Diarra gave Senegal the ideal platform with an early opener, and Iraq's resistance was further broken when defender Rebin Sulaka received a red card, reducing the Iraqis to ten men.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Iraq held firm for much of the first half — but Senegal shifted through the gears after the break. Ismaila Sarr netted his third goal of the tournament to extend the lead, before Pape Gueye launched a long-range stunner that effectively ended the contest and transformed Senegal's goal-difference outlook.

Gueye and Ndiaye put the gloss on a historic win

Gueye was not finished. The midfielder added a rasping second goal to double his personal tally for the evening, before Illiman Ndiaye capped the performance with a superb solo effort that completed the rout in style.

The 5-0 scoreline lifted Senegal to a plus-two goal difference in Group I, placing them in a strong position among the third-placed sides vying for the eight available knockout berths. Senegal are now widely expected to secure a place in the round of 32.