Senegal plunges back into hell: after the CAN, the 2026 World Cup escapes them following a controversial penalty against Belgium
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
Senegal lost to Belgium (3-2) at the end of the suspense in Seattle, in a match marked by a contested penalty in the last seconds. A cruel elimination for Pape Thiaw's men, already marked by the disillusionment experienced during the CAN final a few months earlier. The Lions, solid and efficient leading 2-0 thanks to Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr, saw their world dream evaporate in the final minutes, with VAR once again playing a determining role. Several selection executives, including Pape Gueye, question the choices of the coach and the future of the staff.
In Seattle, in the city famous for its rock legends, Senegal has once again plunged into the nightmare of world football. After a heartbreaking exit at the CAN, the Teranga Lions suffered a similar fate in the 2026 World Cup, leaving the competition in a cruel scenario against Belgium (2-3), still marked by the decisive intervention of the VAR at the very end of the match.
However, Pape Thiaw's men had started their match ideally, dominating the majority of the game with intensity and discipline. Buoyed by goals from Habib Diarra then Ismaila Sarr – the latter equaling legend Roger Milla with four African goals in the World Cup – the Senegalese led 2-0 in the second half. Sarr's action, a superb ball catch followed by a masterful finish, gave a glimpse of a historic destiny.
But the dynamic was reversed at the very end of the match. Belgium reduced the gap in the 86th minute thanks to Romelu Lukaku, before Youri Tielemans equalized in the 89th on a missed exit from Senegalese goalkeeper Mory Diaw. And as the extra time drew to a close, the VAR reported a foul by Lamine Camara on Tielemans: penalty awarded, Tielemans did not tremble and signed the 3-2 for Belgium in the 125th minute.
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This painful scenario is sadly reminiscent of the recent CAN final against Morocco, where, already, a controversial penalty in the final moments had deprived Senegal of the continental title. Sadio Mané then had to call his teammates back onto the field after a stormy interruption, and a new appeal is still pending with the Court of Arbitration for Sport concerning this match.
This time, no savior to reverse the trend. Édouard Mendy, injured, was unable to prevent the defeat of his teammates, helplessly watching the performance of his replacement Mory Diaw, who was unhappy at the end of the match. Coach Pape Thiaw, lucid, recognized the bitterness of this elimination: “We had the match in hand, it’s cruel to see victory slip through our fingers. »
Frustration is also affecting some players. Pape Gueye, unfortunate hero of the CAN, announced that he wanted to take a break from the selection as long as the current staff remains in place. And on the supporters' side, incomprehension reigns over the tactical choices, notably the exits of Pape Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye in the second half.
For Senegal, the year 2024 will remain that of all frustrations, with major disillusionments on the African and global scene. The quest for a glorious destiny continues, hoping that the wheel finally turns in the right direction for the Lions of Teranga.
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