Senegal thrash Iraq 5-0; 12 teams out, six Africans reach World Cup knockouts

Senegal thrashed Iraq 5-0 to claim third place in Group I, confirming that at least 12 teams have already been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup ahead of the final group matches. The other teams sent home so far are Haiti, Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Panama, Qatar, Czech Republic, Curaçao, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. A total of 16 sides will miss the knockout stage.

For Nigerian fans, the result is encouraging: Senegal’s big win shows African teams can compete strongly on the world stage, and six African nations have already secured spots in the Round of 32. This boosts confidence that the Super Eagles, if they qualify, could also make a deep run.

What does Senegal’s performance suggest about African teams’ chances, and how might it affect your support for the Super Eagles in future tournaments?

Keep an eye on the remaining group fixtures to see which other African sides advance and consider supporting African representation in the tournament.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/27/2026-world-cup-12-teams-eliminated-from-tournament/