
Dominique Mendy, a former Al-Shorta SC defensive midfielder, has cautioned the Senegal national team against underestimating Iraq in their upcoming match. Mendy, who played in the Iraqi league, believes the Iraqi team possesses qualities that could challenge any opponent. He described the Iraqi championship as very physical and competitive, noting that many national team players compete in the local league, which indicates its high standard. Mendy also stated that he knows several key Iraqi players, some of whom were his teammates, including Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Basim, Manaf Younis, Ahmed Yahya, and Mohamed Ali. He highlighted that Iraq also has players based abroad and a dangerous number 9 striker capable of making a difference. Mendy pointed out that Iraq showed promise in their match against Norway, despite a loss, and possesses players who can impact the game at any moment. He emphasized that Iraq's main strength lies in their fighting spirit, as they have little to lose and will give their all until the final whistle.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.

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National coach Pape Thiaw addressed the challenging situation for Senegal's team ahead of their decisive match against Iraq in the 2026 World Cup group stage. Following two losses to France 3-1 and Norway 3-2, Thiaw acknowledged the high expectations for his team before the tournament. He stated in a press conference, "It's true that there's a lot of talk, especially after two matches and two defeats when we were cited among the favorites. We must sound the revolt." Thiaw emphasized that both the technical staff and the players need to take responsibility, adding, "On my side, tactically, but also on the players' side, everyone must take their responsibilities." Facing Iraq, the team has no room for error if they hope to qualify for the round of sixteen.