2026 World Cup: unrecognizable, Senegal on the verge of elimination

This was supposed to be the match of redemption, the perfect opportunity to prove that the recent internal turmoil was a thing of the past. After a promising first 45 minutes against France in their opening game, Senegal hoped to finally kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign. Instead, the Lions went through a true collective disaster. Up against Norway for their second group-stage match, Pape Thiaw's men completely sank on the waterlogged pitch of MetLife Stadium, losing 3-2 after an alarming display.

A tactical and technical shipwreck

For this crucial encounter, the coach made the strong decision to field exactly the same starting eleven as against Les Bleus. A tactical gamble that failed on every level. Bereft of ideas, lacking intensity, and plagued by constant technical errors, the Senegalese team betrayed their style of play. The score could have been much heavier if not for Edouard Mendy's brilliance. The Al Ahli goalkeeper held off disaster for a long time by multiplying decisive saves, making his first outstanding stop just two minutes into the match to keep his team afloat.

Despite these glaring shortcomings and repeated defensive lapses, Senegal seemed capable of reaching halftime on equal terms. That was without counting on a stroke of bad luck just before the break. With a totally avoidable move and no immediate danger looming, captain Kalidou Koulibaly made a monumental blunder, serving up the opening goal to Norway on a plate. A crushing blow from which the Lions never truly recovered.

The ordeal of Kalidou Koulibaly

After the break, Pape Thiaw chose not to make any changes, placing his faith in his key players and putting the responsibility on them. But the outcome was the same. Symbolic of this impotence, Sadio Mané never managed to make any real impact, while Pape Gueye drifted through the match like a ghost. Worse still, the Senegalese defense quickly fell apart again in front of the inevitable Erling Haaland, who capitalized on yet another defensive error to double the lead.

Hope briefly resurfaced after the introductions of Ismail Jakobs and the young Ibrahim Mbaye. Riding the momentum of these changes, Ismaïla Sarr—particularly wasteful in the first match—sounded the revolt by cutting the deficit to 2-1. A short-lived resurgence, as Teranga's old demons instantly reappeared. Another defensive blunder allowed Haaland to score an emphatic brace, bringing the score to 3-1. Directly involved in all three Scandinavian goals, Kalidou Koulibaly was substituted shortly after, just as Edouard Mendy, injured, gave way to Mory Diaw. A disastrous evening on all counts.

All eyes on Iraq and the Den under pressure

Ismaïla Sarr's goal in stoppage time, also claiming a brace to make the final score 3-2, was only cosmetic. With two wins in as many matches, Norway and France have officially punched their ticket to the round of 16 of this 2026 World Cup. For Senegal, the future is now hanging by a thread. The Lions will absolutely have to play their final card against Iraq to try and snatch a place among the best third-placed teams in the tournament.

Nevertheless, a simple win may not be enough due to an unfavorable goal difference. They will need to win big and rattle the net as much as possible. While waiting for this do-or-die match on Friday, the Den is bracing for a terrible storm. Back home, supporters are already openly targeting Pape Thiaw, criticizing his insistence on fielding aging, out-of-form players while leaving a promising and frustrated young generation on the bench. The coach and his men will be playing for their survival in a charged atmosphere.