World Cup 2026: Mendy ruled out against Iraq as Senegal are left with no room for error
Senegal could hardly have done with this. With the Teranga Lions facing a do-or-die World Cup clash against Iraq on Friday, bad news has come out of the treatment room: Edouard Mendy will not recover in time from the left knee injury he picked up against Norway. Senegal confirmed that in a statement released in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The first-choice keeper, one of the side’s key figures, is out, with Mory Diaw, the Le Havre goalkeeper familiar to Ligue 1 followers, set to step in.
The situation is bleak for Pape Thiaw’s men. Two defeats from two, against France (1-3) and Norway (2-3), and zero points on the board. To have any chance of squeezing through as one of the best third-placed teams, Senegal not only have to beat Iraq, they need to do it by enough goals to make the numbers work. According to statistical projection site Football meets data, a team finishing on three points with a goal difference of +2 has a 99% chance of going through, compared with just 86% if that difference is -2. The message is plain enough: winning won’t be enough, they need a statement result.
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Mory Diaw handed the Senegal rescue act in a huge test
So Diaw now carries a massive burden in a match that could decide Senegal’s fate. The Le Havre keeper has little experience at this level, but he’ll have to keep his head while Senegal throw bodies forward in search of the goals they need. It’s a tightrope act: attack with intent, stay solid at the back and somehow avoid giving Iraq a way back in.
As for Mendy, further scans are under way to assess the injury properly and work out whether he can play any further part in the tournament. For now, an entire nation is hoping its Lions can find the grit to pull off what is starting to look like a near-impossible job. Iraq, who will next face France, won’t exactly be rolling out the red carpet.
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Crédit Photo by Angela Weiss/ AFP
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