Substitute Pape Gueye scored a pair of sensational second-half goals from long range, and Senegal got a much-needed boost to their goal difference with a 5-0 victory over 10-man Iraq in their Group I finale on Friday.Ismaïla Sarr added his third ⁠goal of the tournament, ⁠the first ​of four after half-time for the Lions of Teranga, who sealed a third-place group finish and are vying for one ⁠of the eight third-place spots in the last 32. Continue reading...

Pape Thiaw’s side need to beat Iraq handsomely to progress from tough group after persisting issue of poor governanceAs the most successful president in Fédération Sénégalaise de Football (FSF) history, Augustin Senghor was looking forward to overseeing the Lions of Teranga’s World Cup campaign, after doing the same for those in Russia and Qatar. But the 60-year-old lawyer, who doubles as the mayor of Gorée island – the point from where large numbers of Africans were shipped to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade – surprisingly lost his job in last August’s FSF elections.“After losing the election I decided to stay quiet and not talk too much about football, to allow the new administration to take charge, with my cooperation and full support,” Senghor told the Guardian. His achievements and the largely professional manner in which the FSF was led during his presidency have become a talking point in Senegal as the comedy of errors in governance by the new FSF administration, led by Abdoulaye Fall, comes to light. Continue reading...

France are left stunned at the decision not to award a penalty as Kylian Mbappe goes down under Sadio Mane's tackle.

A refreshed Lions of Teranga will aim to channel the smoothness of qualification rather than the chaotic aftermath of AfconThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...

Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane is included in Senegal's 28-man squad for this summer's World Cup.

Sadness over the Egyptian King’s departure from Liverpool is matched by gratitude for the goals and glory he gave supportersThe first time I saw Mohamed Salah play was in August 2017. Arsenal were the visitors to Anfield. Liverpool were sensational on that sunny Sunday afternoon. Bobby Firmino and Sadio Mané had fashioned a 2-0 first-half lead, before the third member of Jürgen Klopp’s new attacking trio added his name to the record.Arsenal’s corner was cleared to Héctor Bellerín, some 30 yards out. Salah was on him instantly, robbing the hapless Spaniard easily. His whirring legs blurred like the Road Runner’s as he raced into the Arsenal half and towards Petr Cech. I’d never seen a player bear down on the Kop goal so rapidly. Continue reading...