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Earlier World Cup appearances: 3
Finest efficiency: Quarterfinals (2002)
First look: 2002 (South Korea and Japan)
High purpose scorer: Papa Bouba Diop (3)
Most appearances: Kalidou Koulibaly, Youssouf Sabaly, Ismaila Sarr (7)
Participant to observe: Sadio Mane
FIFA world rating: 14

Of their first ever World Cup match in 2002, Senegal shocked the world by beating the defending champions France 1-0, and went on to prime a tough group that additionally included Denmark and Uruguay.

The Lions of Teranga adopted up that upset by knocking out Sweden within the final 16 and narrowly fell to Turkiye 1-0 within the quarterfinals.

Practically 1 / 4 of a century on, Senegal arrive at their third consecutive World Cup as arguably – if not fairly formally – the greatest aspect in Africa, and potential outsiders to carry the trophy.

Senegal have been unbeaten in qualifying, and made a robust assertion towards England just lately, changing into the primary African aspect to beat the Three Lions successful 3-1 at Wembley final June.

Their latest AFCON remaining towards Morocco could have been marred by farce after they briefly left the pitch in protest at a penalty, however there’s no doubting their particular person expertise or power as a unit.

Senegal have “large goals” to “obtain nice issues”, coach Pape Thiaw mentioned as he unveiled a 28-man squad earlier this month – which he should trim by two gamers earlier than the match.

Mane’s remaining World Cup act

Veteran ahead and captain Sadio Mane, 34, is ready to play in his final World Cup – he mentioned he’ll retire from worldwide soccer after the match. Whereas age has eroded his as soon as blistering tempo, he stays no slouch and retains world class contact, imaginative and prescient and management to go along with his expertise.

Mane was named AFCON participant of the match in January after inspiring Senegal’s run to the ultimate, scoring a sensational purpose in a 1-0 semifinal victory over Egypt earlier than happening to carry the trophy.

He additionally emerged with credit score when a few of his teammates and coaches embarrassed themselves as he refused to comply with them by leaving the pitch and known as them again on to complete the sport.

Taking part in alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi membership Al-Nassr, Mane scored a reasonably mediocre return of 10 targets and 6 assists within the Saudi Professional League, however he did assist his aspect win the title.

Mane will probably be additional determined to exit on a excessive after lacking the final World Cup by means of damage whereas on the peak of his sport.

He’s Senegal’s all-time prime scorer with 53 targets in 126 appearances, and will probably be trying so as to add a number of to that tally if Senegal are to mount a real problem.

Questions over Thiaw’s judgement

Thiaw changed long-serving coach Aliou Cisse as supervisor in late 2024, and led his aspect to an undefeated qualification, the well-known win over England, and victory within the AFCON 2025 remaining.

Nonetheless, his judgement in that remaining was sorely missing after he known as for his gamers to depart the pitch when Morocco have been awarded a controversial last-minute penalty.

Brahim Diaz ultimately missed, and Senegal went on to win in additional time. However whereas Thiaw’s recklessness could have contributed to Diaz lacking the spot kick, it could have additionally performed a task in costing his aspect their title after The Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) stripped them of the cup.

The nation of Senegal will hope Thiaw might be extra level-headed when dealing with inevitable adversity within the World Cup, as a result of he has constructed a particularly harmful aspect.

Filled with expertise

A lot of Senegal’s gamers will probably be acquainted to followers of Europe’s main leagues.

Nicolas Jackson – on mortgage at Bayern Munich from Chelsea – is a bodily, quick striker who will get in all the best positions, even when his ending generally lets him down.

The pacy winger Ismaila Sarr has excelled at Crystal Palace, serving to them to an FA Cup and Europa League wins, and was instrumental within the victory over England.

Pape Matar Sarr is a dynamic all-round expertise in midfield, even when he has endured a depressing season at Spurs.

Sunderland’s Habib Diarra is rising as a extremely thrilling younger midfielder, and is attracting curiosity from larger golf equipment, whereas Idrissa Gana Gueye and Lamine Camara are stable anchors in the course of the park, and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye is a category act out vast.

In the meantime, former Chelsea and Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly, now 35, brings a peaceful and vastly skilled nous to central defence.

There are additionally thrilling youngsters coming by means of the ranks, with Bayern’s 18-year-old midfielder Bara Ndiaye and PSG’s Ibrahim Mbaye introduced within the squad.

If there are weaknesses, it could be that a number of the most important stars are ageing and the artistic gamers could be a little inconsistent – and likewise that the group is probably the closest to being the match’s “group of dying”.

How does Senegal’s group look?

Group I options formidable sides in France and Norway, in addition to a probably tough sport towards Iraq.

Senegal will look to repeat their shock 2002 within the opener towards the French, who will certainly not be underestimating their African opponents this time.

The second sport, towards Norway, might be simply as robust as Koulibaly and co should attempt to cease the purpose machine Erling Haaland if they’re to get one thing from the sport – though they’ll take coronary heart from their often watertight defence which was so stingy in qualifying.

The Senegalese will again themselves to comfortably see off Iraq, who certified by means of a late intercontinental playoff, though they could not really feel they’ve the posh to relaxation any stars relying on how the primary two video games go.

Finally, even the matches towards essentially the most rarefied opposition of their group will maintain little worry for a assured and gifted Senegal.

Senegal’s group matches on the World Cup

⚽ June 16: France vs Senegal (New Jersey, United States), 3pm ET (19:00 GMT)
⚽ June 22: Norway vs Senegal (New Jersey, United States), 8pm ET (00:00 GMT)
⚽ June 26: Senegal vs Iraq (Toronto, Canada), 3pm ET (19:00 GMT)

Al Jazeera’s prediction

Quarterfinals.

Senegal will doubtless impress however could in the end lack the expertise and creativity to be challengers.

Senegal World Cup 2026 squad

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahly), Mory Diaw (Le Havre), Yehvann Diouf (Good)

Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), Antoine Mendy (Good), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC)

Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Assane Diao (Como)