Senegal entered extra time against Belgium on Wednesday with a chance to advance in the 2026 World Cup. They left eliminated, after a penalty awarded in the final moments of extra time, following a VAR review, ended their tournament in one of the more disputed calls of the competition so far.
According to Al Jazeera, Honduran referee Said Martinez awarded the penalty after reviewing a challenge by Senegal's Lamine Camara on Belgian captain Youri Tielemans, with the score tied 2-2 and the match heading toward a shootout. Belgium converted. Final score: 3-2.
The decision drew immediate backlash. The Archivo VAR platform, which specializes in analyzing refereeing decisions, said VAR intervened excessively during the match and determined that it was Tielemans who extended his foot in front of Camara, causing the contact. The platform stated via its account on X that the incident did not amount to the clear and obvious error needed to justify the referee reviewing the decision at all.
Social media filled quickly with reaction. One fan wrote: "This is 100% robbery. Senegal have been robbed. How is this a penalty? Belgium do not deserve to go through corruption." Sports content creator Sneako blamed the result on match rigging. "Rigged! Senegal should storm the pitch right now. Leave the pitch and go home. This is rigged!" Another fan wrote: "I'm sorry, but this was never a penalty. Camara went to clear the ball, but it was Tielemans who got in his way. Senegal was robbed, and it should have been Belgium going out."
Spanish sports journalist Manolo Lama connected the moment to a broader pattern. "They stole the Africa Cup of Nations from them, and now they're stealing all the solidarity with Senegal at the World Cup too," he said. Egyptian journalist Mohamed Saeed drew a parallel to Senegal's loss in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, writing that the penalty "was a harsh lesson and a difficult test."
Senegal had led 2-0 before Belgium came back to level the match and force extra time. The Lions of Teranga, as the national team is known, had been in a position to advance before the final minutes unraveled the result.
Belgium moves on. Senegal's World Cup is over.
