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Belgium Pull Off Miraculous Comeback to Knock Out Senegal

Everything was pointing toward a comfortable qualification for Senegal into the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 at the expense of Belgium, but a frantic, late-minute script turned the entire match completely on its head.

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The Teranga Lions took the lead in the first half via Habib Diarra in the 24th minute, before Ismaïla Sarr doubled the cushion in the 55th minute. Minutes later, an on-pitch altercation broke out between the Belgian players themselves, convincing everyone that the job was firmly sealed for the African side.

The Red Devils Wake Up

However, the narrative shifted drastically in the 87th minute when Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for Belgium with a brilliant finish inside the box, reigniting a match that many had deemed dead.

Just two minutes later, in the 89th minute, a costly misjudgment by Senegal’s goalkeeper Mory Diaw while trying to collect a cross allowed Youri Tielemans to perfectly guide a header into the back of the net, grabbing a dramatic equalizer.

Extra-Time Drama

The epic clash headed into extra time. Just as both teams seemed resigned to a penalty shootout, Honduran referee Saíd Martínez awarded a penalty kick to Belgium in the 119th minute.

Tielemans stepped up once again, confidently burying the ball past Diaw to cap off a historic comeback and fire the Red Devils into the Round of 16, where they will face the winner of the United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match.