Senegal’s forward #13 Iliman Ndiaye celebrates with teammate Senegal’s defender #19 Moussa Niakhate after scoring his team’s fifth goal during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between Senegal and Iraq at the Toronto Stadium in Toronto on June 26, 2026. (Photo by Cole Burston / AFP via Getty Images)Senegal’s 5-0 demolition of Iraq produced a rare and historic statistic, with three players – Ismala Sarr, Pape Gueye, and Iliman Ndiaye – all scoring a goal and providing an assist in the same match.The feat is the first time a team has had three players achieve a goal and an assist in a FIFA World Cup match since Germany’s unforgettable 7-1 victory over Brazil in the 2014 semi-finals, where Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira, and Thomas Mller accomplished the same.Ismala Sarr scored the second goal after Habib Diarra’s opener and later turned provider for Senegal’s third goal. Pape Gueye added another goal and assist, while substitute Iliman Ndiaye also found the net and set up a teammate after coming off the bench.The record is a testament to Senegal’s attacking depth and selflessness, with multiple players contributing directly to the historic victory.The comparison to Germany’s 2014 performance brings back memories of one of the most iconic World Cup matches. Senegal’s achievement is a reminder of how far African football has come, and the Teranga Lions are now etching their own names into the history books.Senegal’s record-breaking performance, which included 8 goals in the group stage – the most by an African nation – and a 5-goal haul in a single match, has rewritten the record books for African football.The Teranga Lions now await their knockout fate, but they have already made history.For Sarr, Gueye, and Ndiaye, the shared achievement will be a lasting memory of their contribution to Senegal’s historic World Cup campaign
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