Senegal head coach: We experienced a brutal defeat

Pape Thiaw lamented Senegal’s 3-2 defeat to Belgium after his side threw away a two-goal lead late on and went out of the 2026 World Cup.

Senegal looked set for a place in the round of 16 when they were 2-0 up until the 86th minute, but Belgium turned the match around and sealed qualification with a stoppage-time penalty in the second half of added time.

Thiaw said the result was “very cruel” and admitted his team could not recover once the game changed. “We were playing well and led 2-0, but a football match does not end in the 85th minute,” he said. “Belgium came back and we could not respond. I congratulate them on the win.”

He declined to discuss the late penalty, which Senegal felt should not have been given. Thiaw said his players argued with the referee but accepted the decision.

The coach also said Senegal dropped too deep after going two goals ahead, and that it became hard to lift the players again once Belgium scored twice.