Senegal 5–0 Iraq: Gueye double keeps the World Cup alive

Senegal 5–0 Iraq, your tournament is alive

The Lions delivered. Senegal 5–0 Iraq on Saturday, and suddenly the round of 16 is within reach (1) (2). Pape Gueye scored twice and ran the show. One more goal than the two Ismaïla Sarr put past Norway in the last match. The defense that leaked three to Haaland kept a clean sheet. Now you wait, results elsewhere decide whether Senegal advance.

Gueye's long road to this moment

Gueye once signed for Watford, then walked away before kicking a ball. The contract was cancelled. He bet on himself at Marseille and Le Havre instead (1). And he bet on Senegal over France at international level. That choice just produced two goals in a World Cup match your team had to win.

Dembélé: facing Senegal meant more than a hat-trick

Ousmane Dembélé scored three against Norway on Friday. France won 4–1. Yet the Ballon d'Or holder told reporters he preferred his opening World Cup match against Senegal (3). "Despite a stunning hat-trick against Norway, I was not fully satisfied with my performance," he said, adding that the Senegal game mattered more to him. It says something when a hat-trick on the world stage comes second to playing your team.

Fan reactions

Senegalese supporters celebrated hard after the final whistle, knowing the win keeps the campaign breathing (2). The mood is cautious hope, a five-goal performance does that, but tempered by the math. One more result needs to fall right. Fans were sharing their immediate thoughts after the match.