Senegal knocked out of World Cup after late penalty completes Belgium comeback
Senegal’s World Cup campaign came to a dramatic and bitterly disappointing end after a late penalty decision completed Belgium’s comeback from two goals down, sealing a 3-2 victory for the Europeans and sending the West African side out of the tournament.
The result extends a pattern of heartbreak for African teams at the knockout stage of recent World Cups, where progress has often been halted in cruel fashion. Senegal, considered one of the continent’s strongest sides, appeared to be cruising into the next round when they went ahead by two goals, only for momentum to shift decisively in the closing stages.
The dramatic turnaround
After establishing control with a commanding first-half display, Senegal allowed Belgium back into the contest through a series of pressure-driven passages of play. The European side’s persistence paid off as they chipped away at the deficit, drawing level before completing the turnaround deep into the second half.
The decisive moment came when the video assistant referee intervened and a penalty was awarded to Belgium. Replays sparked heated debate, with Senegal’s players and supporters left furious by the call. The spot kick was converted, sealing Belgium’s place in the next round and crushing Senegal’s hopes of further progress.
VAR controversy intensifies debate
The late penalty added fresh fuel to the ongoing global debate over the use of VAR in football’s showpiece competition. Critics have repeatedly questioned whether technology is being applied consistently, while supporters argue it provides fairness in moments that would otherwise be decided by human error alone.
For Senegal, however, the philosophical debate will offer little consolation. Having appeared to be on course for one of the biggest results in their World Cup history, the manner of the defeat — leading by two, then falling behind via a contested refereeing decision — will linger long after the tournament concludes.
Looking ahead
The exit marks the end of another campaign in which African representation at the business end of the World Cup has fallen short, despite Senegal and several of their continental peers arriving with genuine expectations. The squad is expected to regroup in the coming weeks as attention turns to the team’s next qualifying cycle and the broader development of African football on the global stage.
Source: Al Jazeera — read the original report.
