Knowing that any chance of knockout stage qualification required not only three points, but victory by a healthy margin, Senegal got straight to it, taking the lead inside four minutes when Abdoulaye Seck powered Lamine Camara’s corner goalward, with Habib Diarra getting a touch to help it in.
To make matters worse for Iraq, Sadio Mane then got away from Rebin Sulaka but was subsequently pulled down, resulting in the awarding of a red card from referee Anthony Taylor. Luckily, Ahmed Basil was on hand to tip away Mane’s resulting free-kick, and Ismail Jakobs’ shot from the edge of the area faded wide.
However, the rest of the half was surprisingly comfortable for Iraq, who even managed to foray forward themselves from time to time.
But Senegal were determined to make it a long second half for the Lions of Mesopotamia, squandering a pair of chances before Camara broke through on the left side of the box and squared it to Ismaila Sarr, who nipped in front of his marker and prodded into the empty net to double the lead.
And just moments passed before Senegal struck again, squaring their all-important goal difference back to zero when Pape Gueye sent a thunderous left-footed strike into the top corner, replicating his goal in the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Pape Gueye had only just entered the fray when scoring that goal, and a little over 10 more minutes passed before he doubled his personal tally. He picked it up from Iliman Ndiaye on the edge of the area and blazed one into the corner with replacement goalkeeper Jalal Hassan unsighted.
Mane then chipped onto the post, before another substitute got in on the act as Ndiaye drove forward and fired it into the near top corner, capping off a ruthless display from Pape Thiaw’s men.
It's the biggest ever win by an African nation at a WC and places Senegal in fifth – as high as they could have hoped for ahead of this match – in the table of third-placed sides, but with five other groups still to play, remaining in the top eight is far from a foregone conclusion.
Iraq, in the experienced hands of Graham Arnold, defied odds to get here for just a second time, but they’ll still be disappointed to remain without a point in WC group-stage action.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Pape Gueye (Senegal)
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