Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has called on his players to remain focused and united after their heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Norway, insisting that the Lions of Teranga still have a path to the knockout rounds of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Despite seeing their qualification hopes complicated by Norway’s victory, Thiaw made it clear that the dressing room has not given up on reaching the Round of 32.
“They know it’s not over yet. Everything can come down to the final matchday.”
The comments came after a dramatic encounter in which Senegal found themselves trailing by three goals before mounting a spirited late fightback through Ismaïla Sarr, whose brace nearly rescued an unlikely result.
While the defeat was difficult to accept, Thiaw emphasized the importance of responding positively rather than dwelling on disappointment.
“It’s a defeat, we must accept it and move forward.”
The coach’s message reflected the mood within a Senegal camp that knows its World Cup destiny is no longer entirely in its own hands. After opening the tournament with a loss to France and then falling narrowly to Norway, the African side faces a must-win situation heading into its final group-stage fixture against Iraq.
Yet Thiaw remains convinced that qualification is still achievable.
“We know there is one match left, we must give it our absolute all and hope.”
The optimism is rooted in the character Senegal showed against Norway. Despite being overwhelmed at times by Erling Haaland and a Norwegian side that secured a historic second consecutive World Cup victory, Senegal continued to fight until the final whistle.
The performance of Ismaïla Sarr offered particular encouragement. His two goals not only reignited the contest but also placed him among the most accomplished players in Senegal’s World Cup history. The winger became just the third Senegalese player to score a World Cup brace and moved level with Papa Bouba Diop as the nation’s joint-leading scorer in the competition.
For Thiaw, however, individual milestones matter less than the collective objective.
The coach has repeatedly stressed that Senegal’s focus must remain on securing three points in the final match and creating the conditions for a possible qualification scenario. Victory against Iraq would keep the Lions in contention and could open the door depending on the outcome of the group’s other fixture between France and Norway.
Senegal’s recent history provides reason for belief. The Lions have built a reputation over the past two decades as one of Africa’s most resilient tournament teams, reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002 and the Round of 16 in 2022.
Now, with elimination looming, Thiaw is calling on that same fighting spirit.
The equation is simple: beat Iraq, hope for help elsewhere, and keep believing.
As the Senegal coach reminded everyone after the final whistle, the World Cup often comes down to the final matchday—and for the Lions of Teranga, that final opportunity is still to come.
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