Senegal has released their final 26-man squad for World Cup ahead of November 14 deadline. Aliou Cisse, Senegal’s head coach has announced the list of players summoned to the marquee event. The AFCON champions are set to begin their campaign against the Dutch.
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Third World Cup appearance for Senegal
The 2022 event will mark the third appearance of Senegal in the world cup. The African side has previously played in 2002 World Cup at Japan & South Korea and in 2018 World Cup Russia. While it was a shocking group stage exit in 2018, the 2002 squad had a stellar run which took them up to quater-finals. In this edition, Senegal are paired along with Netherlands, Qatar and Ecuador in Group A.
Senegal’s talismanic forward Sadio Mane will be key to their fortunes in this tournament. Edouard Mendy and skipper Kalidou Koulibaly will also bey the key figureheads to carry the team forward. Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate and Leicester City’s Nampalys Mendy are also a part of the Senegal squad. The reigning African champions have a well built squad with many players from the top 5 leagues of Europe.
Sadio Mane in the squad despite injury scare
Sadio Mane suffered with an injury while playing for Bayern against Werder Bremen. The German club confirmed Mane sustained an injury to the head of his right fibula. “We are monitoring the situation and we sent a doctor from the federation,” Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said at a press conference.
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“On Thursday, Sadio spent the whole day in Munich before travelling to Austria for further tests. The good news is that he does not need an operation. It is important to continue to monitor his injury and hope that in two or three weeks there is a change. We will give everything to have Sadio back.”
Senegal’s 26-man squad for Qatar
Goalkeepers : Seny Dieng (QPR/England), Alfred Gomis (Rennes/France), Edouard Mendy (Chelsea/England).
Defenders : Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan/Italy), Pape Abdou Cisse (Olympiakos/Greece), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig/Germany), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco/France), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea/England), Formose Mendy (Amiens/France), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis/Spain).
Midfielders : Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano/Spain), Krepin Diatta (Monaco/France), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton/England), Pape Gueye (Marseille/France), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest/England), Mamadou Loum Ndiaye (Reading/England), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City/England), Moustapha Name (Pafos/Cyprus), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham/England).
Forwards : Boulaye Dia (Salernitana/Italy), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor/Turkey), Bamba Dieng (Marseille/France), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal/Spain), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich/Germany), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United/England), Ismaila Sarr (Watford/England).
