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Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly star picks in Senegal’s World Cup squad
TL;DR
Senegal has named a 28-man World Cup squad featuring Sadio Mane, who missed the last tournament due to injury. Coach Pape Thiaw will need to reduce the squad by two players before the final deadline this month.
Key points
- Sadio Mane is a key selection in Senegal's World Cup squad
- Coach Pape Thiaw will trim the squad by two players
- Senegal's squad is considered the strongest among African qualifiers
Mentioned in this story
Sadio ManeKalidou KoulibalyAl NassrBayern MunichEvertonCrystal Palace
Senegal’s Sadio Mane is a key selection in the 28-man World Cup squad named by coach Pape Thiaw as the influential forward looks to make up for lost time, having missed the tournament four years ago through injury.
Thiaw will have to trim his squad, announced on Thursday, by two players in advance of the final deadline towards the end of this month.
Mane remains a leading player for a star-studded Senegal lineup that looks to be the most potent of the 10 African qualifiers in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with a blend of experience and youthful athleticism in the squad.
The 34-year-old is Senegal’s all-time leading goalscorer with 53 in 126 appearances.
Al Nassr’s Mane is likely to lead the line, but also selected are Bayern Munich forward Nicolas Jackson, plus Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr.
Bayern’s 18-year-old midfielder Bara Ndiaye has also been called up, but there is no place for Malang Sarr, who has excelled this season with Lens.
Idrissa Gueye, also of Everton, has been included despite missing the tail-end of the season through injury, with Sunderland’s Habib Diarra and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr also midfield options.
Experienced centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly has been picked along with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
[Al Jazeera]
Senegal were the best team at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and edged the hosts 1-0 in a contentious final that was later awarded to the North Africans, a matter that is before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Senegal have been drawn in Group I at the World Cup and open their campaign against France on June 16 in New Jersey in a repeat of their famous 2002 World Cup meeting in which the African side came out on top against the then-holders.
They also take on Norway at the same venue on June 22 and Iraq in Toronto on June 26.
Senegal reached the World Cup quarterfinals in 2002 before losing to Turkiye, their best showing to date, and for several of their so-called “Golden Generation” of players, Mane included, this will likely be their last chance to improve on that.
They went out in the group stage following a drawing of lots in 2018 in Russia and in the round of 16 four years ago in Qatar.
Senegal World Cup 2026 squad
Q&A
Who are the key players in Senegal's World Cup squad?
Key players include Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, and Ismaila Sarr.
Why did Sadio Mane miss the last World Cup?
Sadio Mane missed the last World Cup due to injury.
When is the final deadline for Senegal's World Cup squad adjustments?
The final deadline for trimming Senegal's World Cup squad is towards the end of this month.
