Gueye Nets Brace as Senegal Thrashes Iraq 5-0 in World Cup Group I Finale

In the final Group I match of the 2026 World Cup, Senegal delivered a commanding 5-0 victory against Iraq, becoming the first African team to score five goals in a single World Cup match. Following this result, Senegal remains in contention for the round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams, holding a superior goal difference among those with three points.

Iraq, having struggled through the qualifiers, concluded their campaign without a point. Senegal opened the scoring early when Habib Diarra converted a header from an Abdoulaye Seck delivery following a corner kick. The match turned significantly in the 13th minute when Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka was sent off after a VAR review confirmed a foul on Sadio Mane, marking the fastest red card of the tournament so far.

Senegal capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half. Ismaila Sarr scored his third goal of the tournament in the 56th minute following an error by Zidane Iqbal. Shortly after, substitute Pape Gueye extended the lead with a long-range effort in the 59th minute and added a second goal in the 71st minute with a powerful volley. Iliman Ndiaye finalized the 5-0 scoreline with an additional long-range strike in the closing stages.