Senegal’s 3-1 defeat to France in their opening 2026 World Cup match is drawing criticism, particularly regarding the team’s performance after halftime. Former Senegalese international Pape Malickou Diakhaté expressed his disappointment with the national team’s second-half display, describing it as a “non-halftime” lacking the intensity and cohesion shown in the first 45 minutes. Diakhaté, now manager general of US Ouakam, noted a loss of compactness, rhythm, and physical density contributed to the shift in momentum. Analysts agree Senegal displayed two distinct performances, dominating initially but faltering as France capitalized on errors. The loss highlights the need for Senegal to address these weaknesses quickly ahead of their crucial upcoming match against Norway. The result places added pressure on Senegal to secure a win to advance in the tournament.