Senegal’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a damaging blow on Monday evening, as a Erling Haaland brace inspired Norway to a 3-2 victory in a pulsating Group I encounter at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Senegal began the match with purpose but were undone by a moment of defensive uncertainty just before the interval. A combination of errors from Kalidou Koulibaly and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy gifted substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen the opening goal in the 43rd minute, a preventable setback that handed Norway the initiative they needed.
Norway doubled their lead three minutes into the second half, and the scorer was inevitable. Haaland received a perfectly weighted throughball from Martin Ødegaard and, despite falling to the ground under pressure, finished with aplomb to fire into the roof of the net, his 58th goal for his country in just his 52nd international appearance. The strike also made him Norway’s all-time leading scorer at a World Cup.
Senegal pulled one back almost immediately. Sadio Mané’s neat flick on the edge of the box released Ismaila Sarr, who finished tidily in the 53rd minute to give the Lions of Teranga renewed belief. That belief lasted barely five minutes. Haaland extinguished any hope of a Senegalese comeback with a close-range prod in the 58th minute after good work from Alexander Sørloth on the right ,a predator’s finish to restore Norway’s two-goal cushion.
Senegal refused to surrender and pushed Norway into a nervous finale. Nicolas Jackson, introduced from the bench, played in Sarr who swept home a second in the third minute of stoppage time to make it 3-2 — but Stale Solbakken’s side held firm, sealing a historic result. It was only Norway’s second World Cup win over a South American or African opponent, and their first over a CAF side since their famous 1-0 victory over Brazil at France 1998.
The victory means Norway have now recorded more wins — two — in this single tournament than in all their previous World Cup appearances combined. They now face France in Boston in their final group fixture to determine who tops Group I.
For Senegal, coach Pape Thiaw must rethink swiftly. The Lions of Teranga, who lost their opener 3-1 to France, have conceded six goals in two games and must now beat Iraq convincingly in Toronto on Friday to stand any chance of reaching the round of 32. With Mané into the latter stages of his international career and expected to retire after the tournament, the clock is ticking on this generation’s last chance to deliver at a World Cup.
