Senegal's World Cup 2026 elimination: A look at the underlying issues beyond the Belgium match

Pre-tournament warning signs included losses to the United States and draws with Saudi Arabia, highlighting defensive weaknesses and key players being out of form. Despite these issues, the coach maintained confidence in a core squad that appeared to lack freshness, leading to continued difficulties against France and Norway. While a 5-0 victory over Iraq secured qualification as one of the best third-placed teams, it did not resolve underlying concerns.

Tensions around the team were fueled by criticisms regarding delegation organization, logistics, bonus rumors, and administrative issues within the technical staff. The round of 16 match against Belgium saw Senegal lead 2-0 until the 86th minute, with goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaïla Sarr. However, tactical changes made by the coach are widely debated as having disrupted the team's balance, allowing Belgium to equalize and ultimately win in extra time.

This World Cup has raised fundamental questions about the national team's operational structure and its alignment with Senegalese football ambitions. The status of certain experienced players has made self-assessment difficult, and the squad's renewal has been slow. Criticisms now extend beyond the technical staff to the governance of Senegalese football, with calls for a deep restructuring of the Senegalese Football Fed