2026 World Cup: Senegal coach Thiaw reveals why Belgium won 3-2

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has admitted his side’s desperation to protect their lead contributed to their dramatic 3-2 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Teranga Lions looked on course for the Round of 16 after racing into a two-goal lead through Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr.
However, Belgium mounted a late comeback, with Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scoring in the closing stages of the second half to force the match into extra time, where the Europeans completed the turnaround to eliminate Senegal from the tournament.
Reflecting on the defeat, Thiaw said his players became too focused on defending their advantage instead of sticking to the...