Senegal eliminated from World Cup after late defea...

By Priya Nair — 2 July 2026 — 3 min read

Senegal’s World Cup exit

Senegal faced elimination from the World Cup 2026 after a 3-2 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16. The match, which saw Belgium secure the win in the 125th minute through a penalty, left the Teranga Lions with immense regret, according to midfielder Krepin Diatta. Coach Pape Thiaw expressed that the loss felt “cruel” after his team had held a 2-0 lead.

The team’s early exit from the tournament has been described as a significant setback for Senegalese football, which had high expectations for their performance. Diatta highlighted a perceived lack of character in the decisive moments of the game, stating that the team “shouldn’t have lost that match at that moment.” He emphasized the need for the team to review their shortcomings and acknowledged that the people of Senegal deserved a better outcome.

Controversial decisions and player reactions

The decisive penalty awarded to Belgium was a point of contention, with Honduran referee Said Martinez making the call after a VAR review. The incident involved Lamine Camara’s challenge on Youri Tielemans. Coach Thiaw maintained that their interpretation was that “there was no penalty,” despite having to accept the decision. This echoes a similar situation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final, where a late, controversial penalty decision also went against Senegal.

Belgium captain Youri Tielemans is fouled by Lamine Camara during the 2026 World Cup last-32 tie in Seattle. Tielemans is standing with his left leg planted forward as Camara slides in from the side, leading with his right leg. The contact between the pair is difficult to see, with the ball positioned right in front of their pink boots. Behind them, watching on, are two Senegal defenders and two Belgium attackers, including Romelu Lukaku. The Belgians wear white socks and shorts and light shirts made up of pink and turquoise patches, while the Senegalese are all in green with red and yellow trim. A blurred section of crowd is visible in the background — Image caption,Lamine Camara's foul on Youri Tielemans gave him the chance to score his 15th goal for Belgium Credit: bbc.com

The parallels between the World Cup exit and the Afcon final have been noted, with both instances involving late, disputed penalty awards following VAR intervention. In the Afcon final against Morocco, a goal by Ismaila Sarr was disallowed, and a subsequent penalty was awarded against Senegal, though it was missed by Brahim Diaz. Senegal initially won that match in extra time, but an appeal board later stripped them of the title, a decision currently with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Following the World Cup defeat, midfielder Pape Gueye announced a break from international football until Thiaw and his coaching staff are replaced. Gueye, who scored Senegal’s ‘winning’ goal in the Afcon final, was substituted in the 66th minute against Belgium. Some fans in Dakar questioned Thiaw’s tactical choices, including the decision to withdraw Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye.

Match highlights and key players

Senegal had established a 2-0 lead in the match against Belgium, with goals from Premier League players Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr. Sarr’s second-half goal, which involved controlling a long ball and striking it past Thibaut Courtois, was highlighted as a contender for goal of the tournament. This goal also saw the 28-year-old equal Roger Milla’s African record of four goals at a World Cup.

Pape Thiaw, visible from waist up wearing a white t-shirt, holds his left hand up to his chin in a thoughtful pose on the touchline during a football match. Out of focus in the background an assistant referee can be seen in an orange shirt, substitutes wear purple bibs and stewarding staff are in luminous yellow bibs — Image caption,Pape Thiaw has been Senegal boss since December 2024 Credit: bbc.com

However, Belgium initiated their comeback when Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute, reducing Senegal’s lead to 2-1. Youri Tielemans then scored Belgium’s equalizer in the 89th minute, capitalizing on an error by goalkeeper Mory Diaw. Diaw was filling in for the injured Edouard Mendy, who watched from the touchline. Tielemans later converted the decisive penalty in the 125th minute, securing Belgium’s 3-2 victory and Senegal’s elimination.

Coach Thiaw acknowledged that after conceding the first goal, the team dropped deeper, which led to Belgium’s equalizer. Despite efforts to regain momentum, the game ultimately slipped away from them. The team now faces a period of reflection and rebuilding to address the issues highlighted by their recent performances.