World Cup 2026: Senegal’s remarkable exit after comeback and controversy


One minute, Senegal were cruising into the last 16 of the World Cup.

The next, they were left wondering how another dream had slipped through their grasp.

Manager Pape Thiaw’s side led 2018 semi-finalists Belgium 2-0 with only four minutes left of normal time, after goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.

But after outplaying their opponents, they somehow “found a way to lose the game”, as ex-Republic of Ireland skipper Roy Keane put it on ITV.

Romelu Lukaku’s 86th-minute goal sparked hope for Belgium and three minutes later, captain Youri Tielemans headed in an equaliser from Leandro Trossard’s cross – the pair were earlier seen having a heated argument – to force extra time.

Then came the controversial penalty, awarded for Lamine Camara’s challenge on Tielemans following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, and converted by the skipper himself 125 minutes in.

It condemned Senegal to further agony, having already endured the pain of being stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title earlier this year.

“Football is just crazy. I couldn’t call any of this game,” former England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Late drama, controversy, history and heartbreak – this last-32 tie had everything and here, BBC Sport attempts to make sense of it all.



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Jaylen Brown trade: How did his relationship with the Celtics crumble?

    Three months ago, Jaylen Brown was finishing off his best season as a pro, averaging 28.7 points per game and taking a leap from All-Star to All-NBA player in Jayson…

    United States pass Bosnia World Cup test – but at what cost? Balogun red leaves sour taste in the mouth

    A puff of the cheeks, a drop of the shoulders and a sumptuous dipper to seal the deal. It may have been somewhat of a surprise when, eight minutes from…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Japan’s Takaichi to Meet Modi on First Official India Visit

    Canada, U.S. and Mexico will not renew free trade agreement

    Canada, U.S. and Mexico will not renew free trade agreement

    Estados Unidos con diez hombres clasifica a octavos tras vencer a Bosnia y Herzegovina

    Estados Unidos con diez hombres clasifica a octavos tras vencer a Bosnia y Herzegovina

    Why The C-5M Super Galaxy Needs A Kneeling Mechanism & 28 Wheels To Do Its Job

    Why The C-5M Super Galaxy Needs A Kneeling Mechanism & 28 Wheels To Do Its Job

    Russia Strikes Ukraine as Explosions Rock Capital of Kyiv

    Russia Strikes Ukraine as Explosions Rock Capital of Kyiv

    Superworms could replace beetles for cleaning skeletal remains

    Superworms could replace beetles for cleaning skeletal remains