Senegal suffered a devastating loss to Belgium, mirroring the-heartbreak of their recent Afcon final. A controversial penalty decision against Lamine Camara proved decisive, as referee Said Martinez sided with VAR to award a spot-kick. This defeat follows a period of immense instability for the squad, who are still fighting a legal battle regarding their stripped Afcon title.

Internal tensions reached a breaking point after the match. Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye announced he will step away from international duty until coach Thiaw and his staff are removed. Fans in Dakar expressed similar frustration, specifically targeting Thiaw's tactical decisions, such as the substitution of Iliman Ndiaye during a critical period of the game.

This collapse leaves Senegal's World Cup qualification hopes in serious jeopardy. The team must now navigate a fractured locker room and intense scrutiny from the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding their previous tournament disputes. The squad faces a massive rebuilding process under immense political and sporting pressure.