Senegal suffered one of the cruelest exits of the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday after squandering a two-goal lead before losing 3-2 to Belgium after extra time in a dramatic Round of 32 clash decided by a controversial late penalty.
The Lions of Teranga appeared destined for the Round of 16 after dominating much of the contest and leading 2-0 with just minutes remaining in regulation. But Belgium produced an extraordinary comeback, scoring twice in the closing stages before captain Youri Tielemans converted a VAR-awarded penalty deep into extra time to complete the turnaround.
Midfielder Habib Diarra gave Senegal the lead in the 24th minute after capitalizing on sustained pressure, while Ismaïla Sarr doubled the advantage early in the second half with a superb finish that left Belgium facing elimination. Senegal controlled large spells of the match through disciplined defending and quick counterattacks, frustrating a Belgian side that struggled to create clear chances.
Belgium’s revival began in the 86th minute when substitute Romelu Lukaku pulled one back. Just three minutes later, Tielemans headed home the equalizer to send the match into extra time after Senegal failed to hold onto its commanding advantage.
With penalty kicks looming, the decisive moment came in the closing seconds of extra time. Following a lengthy VAR review, referee Juan Gabriel Benítez awarded Belgium a penalty after ruling that Lamine Camara had fouled Tielemans inside the box. The Belgian captain calmly converted from the spot in the 125th minute, scoring what became the latest winning goal in FIFA World Cup history and sealing a remarkable 3-2 victory.
Senegal’s players protested the decision, while coach Pape Thiaw described football as “a cruel game” after watching his side’s World Cup hopes disappear in heartbreaking fashion. Midfielder Krépin Diatta said the team had fallen short of its ambition to make history despite producing one of its finest performances of the tournament.
Despite the painful defeat, Senegal once again demonstrated why it remains one of Africa’s strongest football nations. The Lions of Teranga advanced from a difficult group that included France and Norway before pushing Belgium to the brink of elimination in one of the tournament’s most memorable knockout matches.
Belgium advanced to the Round of 16, where it will face the United States, while Senegal exited the tournament with pride but deep disappointment after letting a historic victory slip away in the closing moments.
