Senegal will be fighting to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes alive when they face Iraq in their final Group I match at Toronto Stadium on Friday night, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm (SA time)
The West Africans who are making their fourth world cup qualifications have endured a disappointing campaign, losing 3-1 to France in their opening match before suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat to Norway. Those results have left them rooted at the bottom of the group with no points, making victory over Iraq essential if they are to have any chance of progressing as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Iraq have also struggled in Group I, losing 4-1 to Norway before falling 3-0 to France. Like Senegal, they are searching for their first points of the tournament and will be equally determined to finish on a positive note.
Senegal coach Pape Bouna Thiaw has described the clash as “a sort of final”, urging his players to produce their best performance under immense pressure. However, the Lions of Teranga are expected to be without first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy due to injury.
Despite their difficult campaign, Senegal who managed for the last 16 finish in the previous world cup which was held in Qatar in 2022, possess attacking quality through players such as Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mané, and they will be looking to exploit Iraq’s defence from the opening whistle.
The result of the other Group I fixture between France and Norway will also be closely monitored, as Senegal need both a victory and favourable results elsewhere to stand any chance of advancing to the Round of 32.
With both nations desperate to avoid leaving the tournament without a win, fans can expect an entertaining and fiercely contested encounter as Group I reaches its conclusion.
So far, three African teams have earned their passage through to the 32-team knockout stage with the continent’s champion, Morocco leading by an example which saw them drew 1-1 against Brazil in the opening match, and then beat Scotland and Haiti 1-0 and 4-2 respectively to wrap the Group C campaign on the second position behind Brazil with 7 points each. South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Cote D’Ivoire are the two other African teams to have qualified and their first ever qualification into the next round on this global showpiece.
