Saudi Arabia played out a goalless draw against 10-man Senegal in the friendly final between the two teams before the start of the World Cup on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia’s Greek coach Giorgos Donis had a strong starting line-up in the first half before making ten substitutions after the break.
Senegal finished the match with ten players after striker Nicolas Jackson was sent off for a second yellow card in the 84th minute.
Saudi Arabia put in an impressive performance in the opening stages, threatening goalkeeper Edouard Mendy’s goal several times, most notably in the 10th minute when Musab Al Juwayr went close after a clever pass from captain Salem Al Dawsari.
Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais comfortably saved a Lamine Camara header in the 14th minute.
Mohammed Abu Al Shamat missed a chance to give Saudi Arabia the lead in the 30th minute when he headed over the crossbar from close range.
Senegal pushed hard in the closing stages of the first half, but failed to cause Al Owais serious problems.
Substitute Ayman Yahya unleashed a powerful long-range effort just after the hour that narrowly missed the right post.
Saudi Arabia starts its World Cup campaign in Group H on June 16 against Uruguay before facing Spain and Cape Verde.
Senegal, meanwhile, opens its Group I campaign against France before taking on Norway and Iraq
Senegal vs Saudi Arabia player ratings:
Senegal: Edouard Mendy (7.1/10), Krepin Diatta (6.8/10), Mamadou Sarr (7.0/10), Moussa Niakhatate (7.3/10), El Hadji Malick Diouf (6.5/10), Lamine Camara (6.9/10), Pathé Ciss (6.4/10), Habib Diarra (6.7/10), Iliman Ndiaye (6.6/10), Sadio Mane (7.2/10), Cherif Ndiaye (6.0/10)
subtitles: Ismail Jakobs (6.6/10), Ismaïla Sarr (6.3/10), Pape Matar Sarr (6.7/10), Nicolas Jackson (4.5/10), Antoine Mendy (6.0/10), Kalidou Koulibaly (6.2/10), Idrissa Gueye (6.1/10), Ibrahim Baye (6.0/10), Mbaeng Dimbaeng. (5.9/10)
Saudi Arabia: Mohammed Al-Owais (7.4/10), Saud Abdulhamid (7.2/10), Hassan Altambakti (6.9/10), Abdulelah Al-Amri (7.0/10), Moteb Al-Harbi (6.7/10), Abdullah Al-Khaibari (6.8/10), Musab Al-Juwayr (7.1/10), Nasser Al-Dawsari (6.5/10), Mohammed Abu Al-Shamat (6.1/10), Salem Al-Dawsari (7.0/10), Firas Al-Buraikan (6.2/10)
subtitles: Jehad Thakri (6.4/10), Mohamed Kanno (6.0/10), Ayman Yahya (6.3/10), Ali Lajami (6.6/10), Nawaf Boushal (5.8/10), Abdullah Al-Hamdan (6.1/10), Alaa Hejji (6.0/10), Khalid Al-Ghannam (6.2/10), Sultan Mandash (6.3/10), Hassan Kadesh (6.1/10)
(With input from Reuters)
Published on June 10, 2026
