Pape Thiaw has turned Norway vs Senegal into a must-win test for Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After a 3-1 loss to France opened Group I, he called Monday’s match at MetLife Stadium a final because a negative result could cost Senegal a place in the round of 32.
"It’s going to be a tough match, but we've prepared well. We’ve scouted Norway closely to see their strengths and weaknesses," Thiaw said ahead of Senegal’s second Group I match. Senegal still says it has two chances left, but the margin is thin now: one defeat can end the tournament with a match still to spare.
Thiaw leans on France review
Thiaw said Senegal has gone back over the France match and wants the errors corrected before Monday. "We've reviewed that match thoroughly. We saw our mistakes and we want to correct them. Now, we're determined for tomorrow’s (Monday’s) match, eager to make our fans proud and continue in the competition," he said.
He also said the squad is ready to respond. "Everyone is fit and eager to give their all and make our people proud. The players are ready. The team is ready," he said. That leaves Senegal with a simple task in front of it: recover the points it dropped against France before the group stage slips away.
Norway, Haaland and the plan
Norway arrives after a 4-1 victory over Iraq, with Erling Haaland scoring in the 29th and 43rd minutes. Thiaw described Norway as "a very good team, very strong offensively and athletically," while making clear Senegal will not shape its entire plan around one player.
"Erling needs no introduction. He’s a great striker, but there won’t be an anti-Haaland plan. There will be an anti-Norway plan," Thiaw said. The practical message is sharper than the label: Senegal will try to solve the full team first, then manage Haaland inside that structure.
That approach matters because Senegal says it needs points to have any chance of qualifying for the round of 32. Monday at MetLife Stadium is the match that decides whether the France loss becomes a setback or the start of an early exit.
