OneFootball
·26 June 2026
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·26 June 2026
It could hardly have gone any better for Senegal. After the ball was already in the back of the Iraqis’ net in the fourth minute, the team currently bottom of the group reduced themselves to ten men around five minutes later.
Former Bayern star Sadio Mané was clean through after a defensive error, before Rebin Sulaka held him back and prevented him from getting a shot away. After reviewing the footage, the referee showed a red card.
Unlike the group’s marquee clash between France and Norway, where the Scandinavians are fielding a B team today, this match is an absolute "do or die" game for the West Africans. With a win, Mané & Co. would have a realistic chance of reaching the round of 32, while a draw or a defeat would definitely send them out.
Looking at the first two matches against France and Norway, Senegal would have more than deserved to go through. Against France, they were the stronger team for long spells, and even in the narrow defeat to Norway they looked far from out of place.
With their 4-0 lead, the Senegalese have now put themselves in a very strong position to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.
📸 Michael Reaves - 2026 Getty Images







































