Senegal 5 – 0 Iraq

Match Report

Senegal needed a big win to keep their World Cup alive as one of the tournament's best third-placed teams, and they delivered the biggest win by an African nation in World Cup history. Pape Thiaw's side were ruthless in Toronto, putting five past a 10-man Iraq side that imploded inside the first quarter-hour.

Habib Diarra got the breakthrough in the 4th minute, getting the final touch on Abdoulaye Seck's goalbound header. Nine minutes later, Iraq's night unraveled further: Rebin Sulaka was initially shown a yellow card for bringing down Sadio Mané 20 yards from goal, but referee Anthony Taylor went to the monitor and upgraded it to a red, ruling that Sulaka had denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity. It made Iraq only the second team in World Cup history to concede a goal and have a player sent off inside the opening 15 minutes of a match, after Colombia against Japan in 2018.

Iraq held out for the rest of the first half and ten minutes into the second, but the dam broke after the hour mark. Ismaila Sarr tapped in Lamine Camara's pull-back in the 56th minute, and substitute Pape Gueye curled in a beauty just 89 seconds after his introduction to make it 3-0 in the 59th. Gueye struck again in the 71st minute — a thunderous effort that reached a top speed of 132 km/h — before Iliman Ndiaye added a fifth in the 82nd minute to complete the rout.

Senegal's win gives them a real chance of advancing as one of the World Cup's top eight third-placed teams. Iraq finish bottom of Group I, winless and without a goal scored across their final two matches.

Match Timeline

• 4'⚽GOAL — Habib Diarra 🇸🇳 — Gets the final touch on Abdoulaye Seck's goalbound header. 1-0.
• 13'🟥RED CARD — Rebin Sulaka 🇮🇶 — Brings down Sadio Mané 20 yards out; upgraded from yellow to red on VAR review for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
• 56'⚽GOAL — Ismaila Sarr 🇸🇳 — Taps in Lamine Camara's cut-back. 2-0.
• 59'⚽GOAL — Pape Gueye 🇸🇳 — Curls in a beauty just 89 seconds after coming off the bench. 3-0.
• 71'⚽GOAL — Pape Gueye 🇸🇳 (2nd) — A thunderous strike clocked at 132 km/h. 4-0.
• 82'⚽GOAL — Iliman Ndiaye 🇸🇳 — Completes the rout. Final score: 5-0.

Three Things We Learned

1. Senegal Make History in Toronto

The biggest win by an African nation at a World Cup — five goals, ten men dispatched, and a genuine claim to a best-third-place berth.

2. Sulaka's Red Card Ended the Contest Early

Down a goal and a man inside 13 minutes, Iraq were only ever playing for damage limitation — and even that proved beyond them after halftime.

3. Pape Gueye's Five Minutes Off the Bench

A goal 89 seconds after coming on, and a second one twelve minutes later at 132 km/h — as good a substitute cameo as this World Cup has produced.

Player Ratings

🇸🇳 Senegal

🇮🇶 Iraq

Match Stats

• Scoreline5-0
• Red cardSulaka (IRQ), 13'
• Gueye: time to 1st goal off bench89 seconds
• Gueye 2nd goal top speed132 km/h
• Attendance43,036
• VenueToronto Stadium

Group I — Final Standings

France win Group I, Norway through as runners-up — both into the round of 32. Senegal finish third with a +2 goal difference, giving them a genuine shot at one of the tournament's best-third-place berths. Iraq finish bottom and are eliminated.