Senegal’s World Cup boils down to one match and one question: can they beat Iraq in Toronto tomorrow night to keep alive any hope of sneaking through as one of the eight best third-placed teams?
And will Iliman Ndiaye finally get a start to help them do it? Sorry … that’s two questions.
Pape Thiaw’s side go into the game with nothing left in their own hands beyond getting a result. Defeats to France and Norway have left them on zero points, and only a win – ideally a big one – gives them any chance of climbing into third-place contention once every group has finished.
Iraq are in the same boat. They were more heavily beaten than Senegal across their first two games, and so they arrive at BMO Field with even less margin for error and a goal difference that makes Friday look like a must-win in the truest sense. That applies to both sides.
The Ndiaye Senegal question
For Everton supporters, the Ndiaye question matters too. At least it will to some.
Ndiaye made one substitute appearance against France and then didn’t leave the bench at all in the loss to Norway, with Thiaw sticking to Sadio Mane, Lamine Camara and Ismaila Sarr in support of Nicolas Jackson.
With automatic qualification already gone and Mane winding down his final tournament, a winner (possibly) takes all fixture against Iraq is precisely the kind of game where a manager will look to freshen things up and go for it.
Whether Thiaw sees it that way or sticks with the same front four will say plenty about where Ndiaye sits in his thinking.
It’s also a game with another subplot.
As we explored earlier this week, Idrissa Gana Gueye’s contract situation at Everton remains on a knife-edge, and how he performs in what could be one of his final international appearances may also impact the decision-making at Finch Farm and, most probably, beyond.
Senegal vs Iraq kicks off at 8pm BST (3pm ET) on Friday at BMO Field, Toronto. For more details on the game, check out our Everton News pages.
