Mane-inspired Senegal secure World Cup spot in style

Senegal blew away Mauritania as they claimed a 4-0 win in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (Group B) match at the Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio on Tuesday night.

Therefore, the Lions of Teranga qualified for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA as Group B winners.

The 2021 African champions will now focus on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which is scheduled to be hosted by Morocco later this year.

Senegal become the eighth African nation to qualify for the 2026 #FIFAWorldCup 🇸🇳🏆#WCQ | #SSFootball pic.twitter.com/btUUP9VuFn

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 14, 2025

The Lions of Chinguetti, on the other hand, wrapped up an unsuccessful qualifying campaign in fifth place in the Group B standings.

Having failed to qualify for the 2025 AFCON, the West African side are expected to play international friendlies in the upcoming FIFA break.

With a spot in the World Cup finals at stake, Lions of Teranga head coach Pape Thiaw fielded some of his best players, including their record goalscorer Sadio Mane, who started upfront along with Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson.

The Lions of Chinguetti thought they had contained Mane for the entire first half, but the two-time African Footballer of the Year had other ideas as he netted his 47th international goal in stoppage time to hand Senegal a 1-0 lead heading into the half-time break.

Mane continued to create problems for the Mauritania defence after the restart and he grabbed his brace three minutes into the second half. 

The Al-Nassr superstar beat goalkeeper Abderrahmane Sarr to make it 2-0 to Senegal, much to the delight of the home crowd.

The hosts continued to search for more goals and Iliman Ndiaye put his name on the score sheet when he found the back of the net with the Lions of Chinguetti's defence exposed in the 64th minute, making it 3-0 to Senegal, Jackson being the provider of the assist.

Senegal's emphatic victory was sealed by Habib Diallo when he hit the back of the net with five minutes left on the clock after being set up by Ismaila Sarr and the West African giants emerged as 4-0 winners on the night.

Senegal (1) 4 (Mane 45'+1, 48', Ndiaye 64', Diallo 85') Mauritania 0

Senegal: Diaw, Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf, P. Gueye (Mendy 78'), I. Gueye (Ciss 88'), Ndiaye (Sabaly 78'), Sarr, Mane (Diallo 78'), Jackson (P. M Sarr 68')

Mauritania: Sarr, Abd, Ba (Keita 73'), Saleck, Abeid, Camara, Mouhsine (S. B. Amar 60'), Lekoueiry, Ngom (Haidara 74'), Koita (Said 74'), Yade (Sy 46')