Senegal meet Iraq in the third and final round of World Cup Group I matches on Friday knowing that even a win might not be enough to advance to the knockout stages.
After losing to France and Norway, the Lions of Teranga have zero points and face the prospect of failing to make the grade as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Iraq, who are bottom of Group I on goal difference, are in the same predicament, but are huge underdogs against a Senegal side who had been named as potential dark horses in the build-up to the tournament.
It may be that the winners of Friday's clash in Toronto require favours from elsewhere to go through.
As it stands ahead of the game, Senegal are bottom of the third-placed team rankings table and, of the 12 teams, Pape Thiaw's men are the only side to have no points.
Senegal v Iraq Tips Summary
Best Bet - Senegal to win to nil @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 1/2
Bet Builder - Both teams to score - No, Ismaila Sarr anytime goalscorer & Nicolas Jackson to record 3+ shots @ 9/2
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Senegal v Iraq Prediction
Best Bet - Senegal to win to nil @ 5/6
Senegal are one of the top sides from Africa and are considered capable of beating most teams at the World Cup on their day.
However, forced to face Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland after being drawn against France and Norway, there was a chance Senegal would have zero points after their opening two Group I matches and so it has proved.
The Lions of Teranga lost 3-1 in their opener as Les Bleus ace Mbappe grabbed a brace, before Haaland also scored a double to give Norway a 3-2 win.
Senegal should finally put three points on the board when they face Iraq in the final group game on Friday though.
Thiaw's side had won 12 of their 17 matches in the lead-up to the World Cup and will likely prove too strong for the Lions of Mesopotamia.
Graham Arnold's men have been victorious in just two of their last eight games, losing to Venezuela, Jordan and Algeria.
Senegal will be confident of winning and could do so with a clean sheet, having recorded four shutouts in 2026, while Iraq have found the net just once in three matches.
Alternative Bet - Over 2.5 goals @ 1/2
While Senegal have lost both World Cup matches, they have scored against both France and Norway, proving their quality in attack.
Grabbing a late consolation in their opener, Thiaw's team scored twice against the Vikings, though it wasn't enough.
Now, coming up against an Iraq side who have conceded seven goals to France and Norway, Senegal should find their scoring rhythm as they look to win and advance.
Against Norway, the Lions of Teranga recorded 17 shots, five more than their opponents and, with Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr in attack, backing over 2.5 goals when they face Iraq could prove a smart play.
Arnold's team have conceded in seven of their last eight games and will struggle to keep Senegal at bay.
Senegal v Iraq Bet Builder Tip
Both teams to score - No
Ismaila Sarr anytime goalscorer
Nicolas Jackson to record 3+ shots
Pays @ 9/2
Iraq have managed just one shot on target at the World Cup so far and are unlikely to trouble the Senegal backline too much.
While the Lions of Teranga will push forward in search of goals, the match is likely to be one-way traffic.
Sarr scored twice in the defeat by Norway and will again be tasked with finding the net as Senegal look to progress to the Last 32.
The winger netted 21 goals in 45 appearances for Crystal Palace last season and appears to have brought that scoring form to the World Cup.
Central striker Jackson will also aim to get among the goals and could be a smart bet to record three shots.
The pacy forward, who spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich, has hit four efforts this tournament and should find chances fall his way against Iraq.
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Key Match Stats
Senegal have conceded three goals in three of their last four matches
Iraq are on a four-game winless run, losing their last three games this month
Senegal have reached the World Cup knockouts twice, in 2002 and 2022
Iraq have kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 matches
This will be the first time Senegal and Iraq have faced each other
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
