The Senegal national team secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Iraq on Friday evening at Toronto Stadium in Canada, in the third and final round of Group 9 fixtures at the FIFA World Cup. Senegal's goals were scored by Abdoulaye Seck (4'), Ismaila Sarr (56'), and Bamba Dieng, who netted twice (59' and 71'), before Iliman Ndiaye rounded off the goal festival (81'). It is the biggest win the "Teranga Lions" have ever recorded in their World Cup history.
With this emphatic victory, the teammates of star Sadio Mané now stand on the verge of advancing to the round of 16, having climbed to fifth place in the rankings of the best third-placed teams with 3 points, 8 goals scored and 6 conceded, pending the outcomes of the remaining final-round matches in other groups.
Iraq, meanwhile, officially joined the list of Arab sides to exit the World Cup at the group stage, suffering a third consecutive defeat. Their net was breached 12 times across the tournament compared to a single goal — scored by striker Ayman Hussein, who was absent from this match — amid widespread dismay among fans at the "Lions of Mesopotamia's" dismal showing on the world stage.
Senegal wasted little time in asserting their dominance, with Abdoulaye Seck opening the scoring as early as the 4th minute, expertly rising to meet a corner kick and directing it into the net with his head.
Iraq's calculations were further complicated in the 11th minute when defender Rebin Sulaka committed a grave error on the edge of the penalty area, fouling Sadio Mané who was clean through on goal. The referee consulted VAR and issued Sulaka a straight red card.
Playing with the early numerical advantage, Senegal tightened their attacking grip in search of a second goal, though their attempts were hampered by haste and a lack of a finishing touch. Iraq, for their part, showed commendable resolve, refusing to retreat into defence and instead trading attacking forays with their opponents. The most notable chance came from a powerful strike by Ali Jasim that hit the Senegalese defensive wall and denied Iraq an equaliser. The first half ended with Senegal leading by a single goal.
At the start of the second half, Iraq's technical staff were forced into an unplanned substitution, bringing on goalkeeper Jalal Hassan in place of the injured Ahmed Basel. The Teranga Lions then applied intensive pressure from the outset, with Ismaila Sarr extending Senegal's lead to 2-0 in the 56th minute following a decisive pass from Lamine Camara.
Iraq's defensive collapse continued as substitute Bamba Dieng scored the third goal in the 59th minute on his very first touch after coming on, before returning in the 71st minute to strike again — his second personal goal and Senegal's fourth — with a rocket of a shot that nestled in the net, mirroring the scenario of his first.
The players continued their fierce pressure in pursuit of a bigger goal tally, fully aware of the importance of goal difference in determining qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. This culminated in substitute Iliman Ndiaye scoring the fifth goal in the 81st minute, deepening Iraq's wounds on a brutal World Cup night.