By Angu Lesley
Football writer kick442.com – Cameroon
Senegal’s hopes of securing their first points at the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered another setback after the Lions of Teranga fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat against Norway in their second Group I match.
Coming into the encounter needing a positive result after losing to France in their opening game, Pape Thiaw’s men showed plenty of determination but were ultimately punished by the clinical finishing of Erling Haaland and costly defensive lapses.
After a balanced opening period, Senegal conceded the first goal late in the first half when Marcus Pedersen capitalized on a defensive error to put Norway ahead. The setback forced the African champions to chase the game after the break.
Norway doubled their advantage through Haaland, who continued his impressive World Cup campaign with another goal. Senegal, however, refused to surrender and found a route back into the contest when Ismaila Sarr pulled one back in the 53rd minute to raise hopes of a comeback.
Those hopes were quickly dented as Haaland struck again in the 58th minute to restore Norway’s two-goal cushion. The Manchester City striker’s second goal of the evening proved decisive as Senegal struggled to create enough chances to complete a turnaround.
With time running out, the Lions of Teranga continued to fight and were rewarded deep into stoppage time when Ismaila Sarr scored his second goal of the match in the 93rd minute. However, the late strike came too late to prevent Senegal from slipping to a second consecutive defeat at the tournament.
The 3-2 loss leaves Senegal without a point after two matches and facing a must-win encounter against Iraq in their final group game. The West Africans will also hope other results go in their favour to keep alive their chances of progressing as one of the best third-placed teams.
For all the disappointment, Ismaila Sarr’s brace provided a positive sign for Senegal ahead of the decisive clash, while goalkeeper Édouard Mendy also produced several important saves to keep the contest alive. Nevertheless, defensive mistakes proved costly on a night when Norway secured qualification for the Round of 32.
Senegal will now turn their attention to Friday’s showdown with Iraq, knowing that victory is essential if they are to extend their stay at the FIFA World Cup.
English 
French