Senegal arrives at the tournament with many eyes on them, due to the AFCON finals fiasco earlier this year.
While Senegal won 1–0 against hosts Morocco that evening, a decision to walk off the pitch in protest and later return by the Confederation of African Football, who declared Morocco champions, was seen as a forfeit of the match.
The Lions of Teranga have chosen to completely ignore CAF’s decision and will compete in the belief that they are the best African country in the competition.
It remained largely untouched in qualifying, avoiding defeat in each of its ten matches. In the crucial match against DR Congo in the final round of the campaign, Senegal came back from two goals down to win 3–2 and force the opposition to get through the intercontinental play-off tournament.
This will be Senegal’s fourth World Cup appearance and third in a row, with its best result coming on its debut in 2002. It shocked defending champions France in the tournament opener before equaling the then best-ever performance by an African country to reach the last eight stage.
The AFCON 2025 squad is largely retained by head coach Papa Thiaw, including veterans such as Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye, all of whom have more than 100 international caps.
Their experience, combined with the vibrancy of Ilyman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson and Pape Matar Sarr, makes Senegal a formidable and well-rounded unit, more than capable of challenging for top spot in its group.
Player to watch out for: Sadio Mane
When Sadio Mane made his move to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023, many expected the 34-year-old’s career to slowly but surely come to an end. But 51 goals and 25 assists in 129 appearances since then, including this season’s league win, all but show that the former Liverpool striker is ready to lead Senegal in what could be his final bid for global glory.
Senegal World Cup Fact File:
Appearance: 3
Best result: Quarterfinal (2002)
FIFA ranking: 14
MP: 12
W: 5
D: 3
L: 4
GF: 16
GA: 17
Highest active scorer: Sadio Mane (54)
Manager: Pape Thiaw
Pape Thiaw was promoted from the Senegalese ‘A’ at the end of 2024, replacing long-term manager Aliou Cisse. | Photo credit: Reuters
Pape Thiaw was promoted from the Senegalese ‘A’ at the end of 2024, replacing long-term manager Aliou Cisse. | Photo credit: Reuters
Pape Thiaw knows a thing or two about the World Cup after being part of the historic 2002 squad. He was promoted from the Senegalese ‘A’ at the end of 2024 to replace long-term manager Aliou Cisse, a job he has taken on. He has since guided Senegal to AFCON success, while also helping the country record five straight wins in the business end of the qualifiers and book its place in the finals.
Full team
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy, Mory Diaw, Yehvann Diouf
Defenders: Krepin Diatta, Antoine Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Mamadou Sarr, Moussa Niakhate, Abdoulaye Seck, Ismail Jakobs
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Lamine Camara, Habib Diarra, Pathe Ciss, Pape ⌌Matar Sarr, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
Forwards: Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Assane Diao, Ibrahim Mbaye, Nicolas Jackson, Bamba Dieng, Cherif Ndiaye
Predicted XI (4-3-3)
Edouard Mendy (gk), El Hadji Malick Diouf, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Ismail Jakobs, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Pape Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Sadio Mane.
Published on June 10, 2026
