Football
Senegal Eye World Cup Semi-Final Spot After AFCON Title Drama
Senegal have set their sight on reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal following the controversies that ensued during and after their 2025 AFCON win.
The West African side were stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations title in March after beating Morocco in dramatic circumstances two months before. Senegal were ordered off the pitch by boss Pape Thiaw after referee Jean-Jacques Ndala pointed to the spot in stoppage time following a VAR check for Malick Diouf’s challenge on Brahim Diaz.
Following a 16-minute delay, the game finally resumed after, former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane brought his team back out to the pitch.
Edouard Mendy saved Diaz’s eventual penalty, before Pape Gueye scored the winner in extra-time.
Senegal players and staff celebrate winning the AFCON title. (Photo by Torbjorn Tande/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
However, that did not stop the team parading the trophy before a friendly against Peru later that month, with the case set to be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
As Senegal now prepare for their World Cup group phase match against France, Norway and Iraq, former Senegal forward El Hadji Diouf believes they have what it takes to reach the semifinals.
“AFCON was the warm-up for the World Cup. We know we’re so good,” he exclusively told Sky Sports at a PUMA launch event for Senegal’s World Cup kit. “People know Senegal is not just a good team – it’s an institution of football now.
“We have wonderful players, a wonderful group and the whole continent supporting us because we have players who play not for Senegal only, but play for the whole continent week after week, like Sadio Mane, Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly.
“Now they have to be a machine and they have to be ready for all tournaments. I know mentally, we’re ready to play any competition.
“Going to the World Cup for us now, it’s normal. At this World Cup, we have an objective – we want to reach the semi-final. We have big players, we have a good group and we won the Africa Cup of Nations.
“We leave it all in the hands of CAS and we’re going to see what happens. I think the whole world has been shocked for that decision, but that’s life. Senegal believes of the seriousness of the football of the world and of FIFA.”
Senegal have shown they have what it takes to compete against the big nations. In June, they beat England 3-1 at Wembley in a friendly, before going on to win 2-0 away to Brazil.
They will now be aiming to surpass their best World Cup finish of a quarter-final in their first appearance in 2002.