Senegal’s Idrissa Gana Gueye acknowledged his team’s 3-1 defeat against France in their opening 2026 World Cup qualifying match, but argued the scoreline didn’t fully reflect the game’s flow. Gueye highlighted a strong start for Senegal, but lamented costly errors committed during the second half. He believes the French goal that made it 1-0 was a turning point, and a disallowed goal for Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson could have altered the match’s trajectory. Despite recognizing France’s strength as a top footballing nation, Gueye remained optimistic about Senegal’s chances. He emphasized the team’s unwavering goal of progressing beyond the group stage, focusing now on their upcoming match against Norway. Gueye stressed the importance of learning from their mistakes and preparing for future challenges in the competition.