Senegal captain Sadio Mane has admitted his side were second best in their 3-2 defeat to Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while insisting the Lions of Teranga must respond quickly to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The loss leaves Senegal without a point after two group-stage matches and facing the prospect of an early exit from the tournament. Having already suffered a 3-1 defeat against France in their opening fixture, the African side now faces a difficult path to the Round of 32.
Speaking after the match, Mane acknowledged the disappointment within the squad and accepted that Senegal had not produced the level of performance required to secure a positive result.
“I think we are all disappointed. We entered the match determined to claim all three points, but unfortunately, the team was below its best this evening.”
The defeat represented another setback for Senegal, whose World Cup campaign has so far failed to gather momentum. Expectations had been high coming into the tournament, but consecutive losses have left their future uncertain heading into the final round of group matches.
Mane made no attempt to look for excuses and instead praised Norway for their display. The forward, who currently plays for Al-Nassr, accepted that the European side had earned the victory.
“I think Norway deserved to win.”
His assessment reflected the frustration felt by Senegal following a match in which they were unable to secure the points needed to revive their campaign.
Despite the difficult situation, Mane remained determined to focus on the remaining opportunity available to the team. The former Liverpool player stressed the importance of recovering from the defeat quickly and preparing for the next challenge.
“We will try to bounce back as quickly as possible, starting from tonight, and prepare for the next match. There is still everything to play for, and we must keep fighting.”
Those comments underline the belief within the Senegal camp that qualification is still possible, even though the team has yet to register a point at the tournament.
When asked directly whether Senegal could still progress to the knockout stages, Mane offered an immediate and confident response.
“Of course, of course,” he said, signalling his conviction that the Lions of Teranga remain capable of turning their fortunes around.
Senegal’s situation, however, is now precarious. With defeats in both of their opening fixtures, the team must win their final group-stage match against Iraq to have any chance of extending their stay at the World Cup.
Even victory may not be enough on its own, as Senegal will also require other results elsewhere in the group to fall in their favour.
Nevertheless, Mane insisted the team’s focus must remain on what they can control. The captain concluded by calling on his teammates to move on from the disappointment and concentrate fully on the decisive match ahead.
“We must bounce back as quickly as possible and do everything we can.”
The coming fixture against Iraq now represents a defining moment in Senegal’s World Cup campaign. Anything less than victory would end their hopes of reaching the Round of 32, while a win could yet keep their ambitions alive if other results provide the assistance they need.
For now, however, Senegal face an anxious wait and a must-win encounter as they attempt to recover from a difficult start to the tournament and keep their World Cup dream alive.
