Senegal faced a heartbreaking exit from the World Cup after squandering a 2-0 lead against Belgium, eventually losing in extra time. Goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr had Pape Thiaw’s team in control until the final minutes of regulation. Belgium’s resurgence began when Romelu Lukaku scored in the 86th minute, followed by a header from captain Youri Tielemans shortly after, leveling the score.
The match was decided by a controversial penalty deep into extra time, awarded after a video assistant referee review of Lamine Camara’s challenge on Tielemans. Tielemans converted the spot-kick at the 125-minute mark, marking the latest goal in tournament history. Critics, including Gary Neville and Roy Keane, questioned the validity of the penalty and the length of time taken by the officials to reach a decision.
This result echoes Senegal’s previous frustrations, including their recent loss of the Africa Cup of Nations title. For Belgium, the comeback mirrors their 2018 success against Japan, highlighting the resilience of their remaining veteran players. Manager Rudi Garcia praised the squad’s depth as they now prepare for their next knockout stage opponent.
