Beaten for the second time in two games, this time 3-2 by Norway, the Teranga Lions of Senegal find themselves on the brink of elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
An inconceivable situation for a side that arrived at the tournament with considerable ambitions.
Pape Thiaw’s team were outplayed by Erling Haaland and his teammates in a disappointing, error-strewn performance at the Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey.
Stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title off the pitch despite lifting the trophy on the field in Rabat on 18 January, Senegal had viewed this World Cup as an opportunity to prove to the world that they were the continent’s rightful champions. For now, that mission looks severely compromised.
Following their 3-1 defeat to France, the Lions suffered another loss against Norway and are now reliant on a hypothetical finish among the eight best third-placed teams — without any control over their own fate ahead of their final group game against Iraq on Friday June 26, at BMO Field in Toronto.
Senegal must now win by a comfortable margin and hope their goal difference is enough to advance as one of the best third-placed teams across all groups.
Meanwhile, Erling Haaland said Norway must be realistic about what they can achieve at the World Cup after qualifying for the last 32 with a 3-2 win over Senegal.
Haaland followed up his brace in the opening 4-1 victory over Iran with two more goals as Norway won consecutive games at the World Cup for the first time.
Norway have lost just one of their past 18 matches and will take on 2022 runners-up France in Boston on Friday to determine the winners of Group I.
The Manchester City man, however, cautioned against getting carried away after the team’s strong start to their first World Cup since 1998.
(The Whistler)