Senegal vs Iraq Full Match
The world’s attention turned to this World Cup clash on 2026-06-26 as Senegal and Iraq faced off in a high-stakes encounter. Both nations sought to make their mark on the grandest stage of football with everything to play for in the group phase.
Early Breakthrough and Red Card Drama
The match ignited almost immediately as Senegal asserted their authority in the 4th minute. Following a well-placed corner, Habib Diarra clinical finish from very close range put the Lions of Teranga ahead, capitalising on a flick-on by Abdoulaye Seck. The momentum swung even more drastically in Senegal's favor in the 13th minute when a VAR review resulted in a straight red card for Iraq defender Rebin Sulaka. Forced to adapt, Iraq brought on Munaf Younus to bolster their backline, but the numerical disadvantage loomed large.
Despite the setback, Iraq showed resilience through the remainder of the first half. Goalkeeper Ahmed Basil produced a fine save to deny Sadio Mané, though his afternoon ended prematurely due to an injury that saw him replaced by Jalal Hassan just before the break. Senegal continued to create chances, with Ismail Jakobs and Moussa Niakhaté both threatening to extend the lead, but the score remained 1-0 at the interval.
Second Half Surge and Clinical Finishing
The floodgates opened in the second period as Senegal’s relentless pressure paid dividends. In the 56th minute, Ismaïla Sarr doubled the lead with a sharp finish from close range after being set up by Lamine Camara. This sparked a flurry of activity from the bench, as Senegal introduced Pape Gueye, Nicolas Jackson, and Iliman Ndiaye to maintain their high intensity.
The tactical changes worked to perfection. Pape Gueye made an immediate impact, firing a left-footed rocket into the top corner in the 59th minute before adding his second of the night in the 71st minute with a clinical strike into the bottom corner. The scoring was rounded off in the 82nd minute when Iliman Ndiaye produced a moment of individual brilliance, curling a shot into the top right corner from outside the box. While Jalal Hassan made several late saves to prevent further damage, the night belonged to a dominant Senegal side.
