Belgium draws Senegal in toughest round‑of‑16 clash at the World Cup

The Red Devils will meet Senegal in the World Cup round of 16, a draw that pits Belgium against one of Africa’s strongest sides after their win over New Zealand secured progression. Senegal finished third in Group I and fielded prolific forwards such as Pape Gueye and Ismaïla Sarr. Before the draw, Belgium could have faced four possible opponents – South Korea, Senegal, Austria or Algeria – in the round of 16. The lottery delivered Senegal, which the article describes as the toughest third‑place opponent they could meet. Senegal finished third in Group I, which also contained France, Norway and Iraq. They opened with a 3‑1 loss to France, then fell 3‑2 to Norway, before securing a decisive victory over Iraq. ‘Of all the possible opponents from that list of best third‑placed teams, Senegal is actually the most difficult,’ said Ludo Vandewalle, chief football editor of Het . He added that Senegal had already endured a serious qualifying path, making them the hardest opponent Belgium could draw.

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Pape Gueye, a forward for Spanish club Villarreal, came off the bench against Iraq and delivered two powerful strikes, contributing to Senegal’s dominant win. His shots, described as a ‘weapon’ the Red Devils must neutralise, underscored Senegal’s attacking threat. Ismaïla Sarr, who plays for Crystal Palace, scored three goals at the tournament – two against Norway and one against Iraq – becoming Senegal’s all‑time top scorer at a World Cup. Sarr’s club form last season included 21 goals, highlighting his scoring pedigree.

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Other Senegalese attackers such as Nicolas Jackson also require attention, while the team relies on veteran stars Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly, the latter a former KRC Genk defender. The article notes Senegal’s physical style, with Koulibaly described as physically strong but vulnerable alongside his defensive colleagues. Belgium will need to devise a plan to contain Senegal’s pace and physicality to avoid potential problems. The upcoming clash therefore promises a tactical battle between the Red Devils and the African champions.