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Diarra Scores Senegal’s First World Cup Knockout Goal in 24 Years

Senegal scored their first World Cup knockout stage goal in 24 years, finding the back of the net against Belgium in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

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The historic moment came in the 26th minute when Ismaïla Sarr’s powerful header struck Thibaut Courtois’ left post. The rebound fell perfectly to Habib Diarra in front of an empty net, who calmly slotted the ball home to give the Teranga Lions a crucial 1-0 lead.

Breaking a 24-Year Drought

Historically, Senegal had only advanced to the World Cup knockout rounds twice before this tournament:

  • The 2002 Dream: In their debut appearance, they famously defeated Sweden 2-1 in the Round of 16 thanks to a Henri Camara brace, before being eliminated by Turkey (1-0) in the quarter-finals.

  • The 2022 Defeat: In Qatar, the West African giants reached the Round of 16 again but suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of England without scoring.

Now, Diarra has broken that long drought against a struggling Belgian side that appears to be going through one of its weakest periods in recent years.

Milestone for Mané: This high-stakes clash also marks a significant personal milestone for Sadio Mané, who is featuring in a World Cup knockout match for the first time in his illustrious international career.