Iraq match is like a final, Senegal coach says

Senegal will approach their game against Iraq on Friday like a final to get the win, coach Pape Bouna ​Thiaw said, as the West African side try to keep ‌their World Cup campaign alive.

Tipped initially as one of the strong contenders at the World Cup, Senegal have had a lacklustre start to the tournament with losses to ​France and Norway, leaving them with zero points in Group ​I.

"The team is hungry for more. It is important for ⁠the nation," Thiaw told reporters a day before the game in ​Toronto Stadium.

"We're actually playing a sort of a final tomorrow with Senegal ​and Iraq, because... if you want to stay in the competition, we need to win this game," he added.

Even a win against Iraq may not be enough ​for Senegal to seal a spot in the knockouts. The team ​will have to wait until the end of all group stage fixtures to see ‌if ⁠they advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups.

Defender Ismail Jakobs is aware Senegal's fate is not in their hands but the team will put up a fight, he said.

"Everyone ​wants to continue ​playing the ⁠World Cup, and we're going to do our job tomorrow," the 26-year-old said.

Thiaw is hoping Senegalese fans will ​be out in force to support the team.

"The team ​needs the ⁠fans to secure the qualification," he said.

"I know we were supposed to be one of the top contenders, but now we need to wake ⁠up," ​Thiaw said. "There is no room for mistakes ​anymore."

Senegal will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for the fixture, after he suffered ​an injury against Norway.