Diatta was interviewed in the mixed zone after Senegal was eliminated by Belgium in this FIFA World Cup.

I'd like to ask you a somewhat complex question. In a major tournament like this, with the game in the 84th minute, many African teams have found it difficult to hold onto their lead in the past couple of days. In your experience, what is the weakest link? How should you have secured the match?

I think that's a very good question. At this high level of play, we can't always dwell on the details. I think it's mainly a matter of mentality. Because when you're leading 2-0 in the 84th minute, you have to control your defensive area. You have to give everything. Even if it means blocking with your head, you have to defend it like it's yours. It's truly regrettable, very regrettable. Because based on our performance today, based on what we showed, what I'm saying now comes from the heart. To be honest, I'm very frustrated. It's such a shame to miss an opportunity to advance that was within reach.

Can it be said that Senegal's main problem today was psychological?

I think so. At this stage, if you're not mentally prepared, then you really need to reflect. We lost, we really lost. We had truly hoped to write a brilliant page for Senegalese football in this FIFA World Cup, but now we have to admit that we didn't achieve our goal. I can't even imagine how every Senegalese person feels right now, because I put myself in their shoes. Honestly, they deserve a better outcome, and this country deserves a better outcome.

From today's performance, we shouldn't have lost this game. When you need to block with your head, you block with your head, and when you need to fight with your body, you fight with your body, because it's all worth it. It's truly regrettable. The same problems keep recurring. At this point, we must stop making excuses for ourselves. When it's time to show courage, show courage, and when it's time to defend, you must defend well. I think we failed.

How did Lukaku change the game after coming on as a substitute in the second half?

I don't think it was just Lukaku's appearance that changed the game. Belgium is a very strong team and a very good team. De Ketelaere, I played with him at Brugge, and he performed well. Lukaku is a top striker, everyone knows that. But I think the problem was more systemic. They did their job and always believed they could come back. I think the problem was on our side. If we believe we must win the game, then we must do everything to solve the problem. Especially when you know such a striker is in the box, you must give your all and not give him any chances.

We made mistakes, and they were collective mistakes. At times like this, no one person should be blamed. I think it was a team loss. This result is difficult to accept, but life goes on.

What do you think of the team's defensive performance? Especially in the first half, you restricted Belgium well until the last 10 minutes. Overall, how do you think the team dealt with Belgium's attack?

If we look back at our four games in this FIFA World Cup, I think our defense was more solid in the first 45 minutes today. The problem occurred in that phase, when we lost control of the game. This shouldn't have happened, because you have to stay strong. You know the game will get difficult, but at times like this, you have to give everything, you have to defend your box. As I said, you have to be the master of your own box. In those 10 minutes, we were under pressure, but we didn't take our chances. In the end, we lost the game, which is truly regrettable.

Did Senegal's substitutions destabilize the team?

I don't think the substitutions caused the team to lose stability. Because looking at this team today, everyone is capable of playing. So regardless of substitutions, the players on the field must do their job. We are all professional players, and we all sincerely want to do our best for our country. I won't blame anyone either, because now is not the time to assign blame. Everyone knows how they performed on the field. If you didn't do enough, you know it; if you did well, you also know it.

We are a team, and we must look at the problem as a whole. This was a collective loss, and there's no need to blame any single player. What's certain is that we are very disappointed, because we had everything it took to win this game.

You were leading 2-0 but couldn't control the final stages of the game. You just mentioned this was a collective loss, but some individual errors also cost you, especially conceding a penalty at the last minute and losing the game because of it.

Yes, but I still want to emphasize that we could have handled these situations, they were completely avoidable. I know you might think these were individual errors, but I don't see it that way. In my opinion, if you are determined not to concede a goal, it's a matter of mentality, as I just said. You have to be the master of your own box, you have to give your all. At times like this, no single player should be blamed. There were indeed individual errors, but even so, the whole team needed to compensate. I think it's a psychological issue. In a game like this, you have to be strong enough in all aspects, because we are a team capable of making our country proud. We can admit that we failed, and we are very disappointed.

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