Senegal face Iraq with World Cup on the line

Must-win against Iraq tonight

Senegal face Iraq on Friday in the final Group I match, and nothing less than victory keeps the tournament alive (1) (2) (3). After two straight losses, your team sits on zero points and needs a win plus favorable results elsewhere to reach the knockout rounds.

Norway loss leaves Senegal on the brink

Norway 3–2 Senegal in the second group match. Erling Haaland's double did the damage, and Ismaïla Sarr scored both for the Lions (4). A late surge made it close, but defensive errors handed Norway too many chances. The defeat followed an opening loss and leaves Senegal needing a miracle.

Thiaw: "This generation wants to surpass 2002"

Pape Thiaw is reaching for history. "That generation won Senegal's greatest World Cup glories, and we will be inspired by them. But this current generation wants to surpass that one," the coach said (3). He added: "I trust my players, they are motivated, and we will fight to beat Iraq and advance. Our people deserve it."

Federation rift deepens the crisis

Off-field tension is not helping. Sources report internal friction between players, the coaching staff, and the Senegalese federation over unpaid bonuses (3). A must-win World Cup match is hard enough without that weight.

Fan-reaktioner

Fans on Reddit are tracking the Iraq match as a tense, late kickoff, same time slot as Norway-France, with hope that the group still has one twist left. The mood is nervous but not surrendered. World Cup Thread - Friday 26 June