The Lions de la Teranga were eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup against Belgium. The best third in the group of France, Senegal earned the right to compete in the round of 16 of the World Cup.

What happened?

The Lions de la Teranga could have had serious ambitions for the rest of the competition but they fell to Belgium (3-2) while leading 2-0 with 5 minutes left in regulation time. A heartbreaking loss that comes with small controversies after this elimination, particularly with Nicolas Jackson.

Nicolas Jackson defends himself

The Chelsea striker, on loan to Bayern Munich last season, is accused of drinking alcohol during the competition. Rumors that he totally denies. « I share the disappointment of a whole people. We wanted to go further for you and for this jersey. I also see what is being said about me. It's false. I don't drink alcohol, I've never drunk it. I love this jersey too much and I respect my teammates too much to behave otherwise than as a professional » he writes on his Instagram account.

« Stop lying, you idiot »

According to Le Parisien, this rumor would have originated from Paul Keita, a 34-year-old Senegalese player who has not played since 2022. | Date | Result | | --- | --- | | 2026-06-16 | France 3-1 Senegal | The Lions de la Teranga have lost their last three games.

What comes next?

Senegal's fans are eagerly waiting for the next competition to see their favorite team in action. And the players must now recover and prepare for the next challenges. So will the Lions de la Teranga be able to bounce back from this defeat? Only the future will tell. But for now, the fans must remain loyal to their team and encourage them to continue giving their all. The Lions de la Teranga need their support to succeed in the next competitions.