By Izuchukwu Okosi
Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0 in Toronto on Friday evening to enhance their chances of qualification to the round of 32 stage of the FIFA World Cup.
The Teranga Lions who reached the quarterfinals of the tournament in 2002 were almost guaranteed an exit following their defeats against France and Norway in their previous Group I matches but the win over Iraq means that the West Africans would have to wait to confirm qualification as one of the third best placed teams in the group stage.
Senegal went ahead four minutes into the game through Habib Diarra who deflected the ball into the Iraqi net from an Abdoulaye Seck’s header after a corner kick.
Nine minutes later, English referee Anthony Taylor after a VAR review, sent off Iraq’s Rebin Sulaka for pulling down Sadio Mane who bore down on goal.
Mane took the free kick himself but it was off target.
The Africans did not have another chance at scoring in the first half with the only goal this far being Senegal’s attempt in the first 45 minutes.
Former Man united midfielder Zidane Iqbal was the guilty player whose loss of concentrationed to Ismaila Sarr’s strike in the 56th minute.
Villarreal’s Pape Gueye scored his second of the night in the 71st minute while second half substitute Illiyan Ndiaye added gloss to the scoreline to make it 5-0.
