Senegal’s World Cup was hanging by a thread after back-to-back defeats to France and Norway, but one huge night in Toronto changed everything.
Everton’s two Senegal internationals both had a hand in it.
A statement win over Iraq
Idrissa Gana Gueye started in his familiar holding role and played every minute as Senegal dismantled Iraq 5-0 to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. It was his shot from the edge of the box in the fourth minute, deflected behind for a corner, that led directly to Habib Diarra’s opener moments later.
Iraq’s afternoon worsened further when Rebin Sulaka was sent off for hauling back Sadio Mane, and although Senegal couldn’t add to their lead before half-time, the second half turned into a rout.
Ismaila Sarr made it 2-0 just after the hour, before Pape Gueye — no relation to Gana — came off the bench to score twice in the space of 12 minutes.
Iliman Ndiaye, who had been an unused substitute against Norway, made his own mark this time: a headed assist for Pape Gueye’s second, then a rifled finish of his own from outside the box eight minutes from time to complete the scoring.
Gueye’s contribution was less visible on the scoresheet but no less important. He completed 91 passes — more than any other player on the pitch — and led the match for attempted and completed line breaks, the kind of unflashy but reliable work that has underpinned his Everton career.
The win lifted Senegal into the knockout rounds and set up a round-of-32 meeting with Belgium in Seattle on Wednesday evening.
A sterner test against Belgium
Belgium arrive having topped Group G unbeaten, following draws with Egypt and Iran with a 5-1 win over New Zealand in their final group game.
Rudi Garcia’s side have leaned on a 4-3-3 at this tournament, with Kevin De Bruyne operating centrally as the team’s creative focal point and Jeremy Doku’s pace causing problems from the right.
It is not a Belgian side without flaws, though – this is not their ‘golden generation.’ Romelu Lukaku’s fitness remains a question after a season disrupted by injury, and a defence that conceded five goals across two qualifying matches against Wales has shown it can be got at.
Belgium have also entered the opposition box more often than any other team in European qualifying, suggesting Garcia’s side will look to control territory and create chances through volume as much as individual brilliance.
For Gana, the assignment is a heightened version of a familiar job: protecting Senegal’s back line, this time against a midfield built around De Bruyne rather than Iraq’s less threatening unit.
For Ndiaye, the question is whether his impact off the bench earns him a start or whether Pape Thiaw again turns to him as an option to change the game rather than begin it.
Senegal go into Wednesday as underdogs given the gap in World Cup experience, but they have already shown in Toronto that they can produce their best football when the stakes are highest.
For Everton’s Senegalese pairing, this is huge – arguably the biggest match of either of their careers so far.
