World Cup 2026: Senegal’s dramatic exit after comeback and controversy.

One minute Senegal were through to the last 16 of the World Cup.

Next they were left wondering how another dream came into their hands.

Goals from Habib Diarra and Ismaila Sarr gave coach Pape Thiau’s side a 2-0 lead over 2018 semi-finalists Belgium with just four minutes left in regulation time.

But once they did, they somehow “found a way to lose the game”, as former Republic of Ireland champion Roy Keane put it on ITV.

Romelu Lukaku gave Belgium hope in the 86th minute, and three minutes later captain Youri Tielemans headed home a cross from Leonardo Trossard – the pair had previously been seen in a heated argument – to force extra time.

A controversial penalty was then converted by Lamin Kamara on Tielemans on Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review and by the captain himself on 125 minutes.

For enduring the pain of being, he condemned Senegal to more pain. They were stripped of their African Cup (Afcon) trophy earlier this year.

“Football is just crazy. I couldn’t call any of this game,” former England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Late drama, controversy, history and heartbreak – this last-32 game had it all and here BBC Sport tries to make sense of it all.