World Cup 2026: Senegal’s remarkable exit after comeback and controversy

One minute, Senegal was heading into the last 16 of the World Cup.

Then they began to wonder how another dream had slipped away from them.

Coach Pape Thiaw’s team took a 2-0 lead over 2018 semi-finalists Belgium with just four minutes left in normal time after goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.

But after outplaying their opponents, they somehow “found a way to lose the game”, as former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane put it on ITV.

Romelu Lukaku’s 86th-minute goal created hope for Belgium and three minutes later captain Youri Tielemans scored the equalizing goal from Leandro Trossard’s cross – the pair had previously been seen having a heated argument – to force extra time.

Then came the controversial penalty awarded for Lamine Camara’s challenge on Tielemans following video assistant referee (VAR) review, which was converted by the captain himself in the 125th minute.

It condemned Senegal, who had already suffered the pain of being stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title earlier this year, to further pain.

“Football is absolute madness. I can’t sing any of this game,” former England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Recent drama, controversy, history and heartbreak; This last 32 tie had it all, and here BBC Sport tries to make sense of it all.