By Our reporter 23.6.2026
Senegal’s Teranga Lions are looking at the 2026 FIFA World Cup exit door, but midfielder Sadio Mane and striker Idrissa Gueye believe they can still make the knockout stage.
Senegal the 2025 African Champions lost their opening game to France 3-1 and on Monday failed to find their way out of another defeat to Norway. They play their last group I game against Iraq on Friday. A win depending on other results will guarantee their stay in the USA.
Marcus Hendersen opened the scoring for Norway before Erling Haaland scored a double. Ismaila Saar replied with own brace but not enough to save Senegal.
“I think that we still have a little chance,” Mane told ESPN.
“Of course, we still believe in qualification, but we need to remobilise as early as possible.
“We’re going to already start preparing for the next game, and we hope that time will be the best judge.”
Also Idrissa Gueye added that their World Cup is not yet finished.
“Nothing’s finished yet,” Gueye told ESPN.
“Things aren’t great for us, but we need to rest now and then take stock before our last match.
“It’s up to the staff now to watch this match back and decide what to change before the [Iraq] game. Things aren’t working at the moment, but we still have to finish things off. We still hope to qualify.
“As players, we’re ready to give everything on the pitch and sacrifice ourselves for our objective.”
Haaland...making the Senegal Teranga Lions pay.