Senegal could be Africa's strongest representative at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, boasting a squad well equipped to threaten the very best that Europe, Asia and South America can offer.
Although packed with leading talent from the English, German and Italian leagues, the Africa Cup of Nations champions are an unpredictable quantity.
This will be the third World Cup appearance for the Lions of Teranga, two decades after their run to the 2002 quarterfinals — which included a sensational opening-match victory over Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane and France.
That result remains one of the biggest shock results in World Cup history.
Across seven years at the helm, coach Aliou Cisse has nurtured a golden generation of Senegalese talent into an efficient, dangerous force. They'll be a team to avoid in Qatar.
Projected Senegal World Cup squad 2022
Cisse had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which he will select a final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
Based on World Cup qualifying squads, the Africa Cup of Nations and friendly rosters o psg fc t shirt ver the past year, these are the names most likely to be on his preliminary list.
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Edouard Mendy | Chelsea (ENG) | 30 | 25 |
Goalkeeper | Alfred Gomis | Rennes (FRA) | 29 | 14 |
Goalkeeper | Seny Dieng | Queens Park Rangers (ENG) | 27 | 3 |
Goalkeeper | Mory Diaw | Clermont (FRA) | 29 | |
Defender | Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
Defender | Pape Abou Cisse | Olympiacos (GRE) | 27 | 12 |
Defender | Abdou Diallo | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 18 |
Defender | Ismail Jakobs | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 1 |
Defender | Fode Ballo-Toure | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 14 |
Defender | Saliou Ciss | Free Agent | 33 | 37 |
Defender | Formose Mendy | Amiens (FRA) | 21 | 2 |
Defender | Noah Fadigo | Brest (FRA) | 22 | |
Defender | Moussa Niakhate | Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 26 | |
Defender | Youssouf Sabaly | Real Betis (SPA) | 29 | 24 |
Defender | Abdoulaye Seck | Macabbi Haifa (ISR) | 30 | 5 |
Midfielder | Idrissa Gueye | Everton (ENG) | 33 | 95 |
Midfielder | Cheikhou Kouyate | Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 32 | 82 |
Midfielder | Nampalys Mendy | Leicester City (ENG) | 30 | 18 |
Midfielder | Pape Gueye | Marseille (FRA) | 23 | 11 |
Midfielder | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham (ENG) | 20 | 8 |
Midfielder | Moustapha Name | Pafos (CYP) | 27 | 6 |
Midfielder | Mamadou Loum | Reading (ENG) | 25 | 3 |
Midfielder | Pathe Ciss | Rayo Vallecano (SPA) | 28 | 1 |
Forward | Sadio Mane | Bayern Mu psg shirt size guide nich (GER) | 30 | 92 |
Forward | Ismalia Sarr | Watford (ENG) | 24 | 47 |
Forward | Boulaye Dia | Salernitana (ITA) | 25 | 18 |
Forward | Bamba Dieng | Marseille (FRA) | 22 | 12 |
Forward | Habib Diallo | Strasbourg (FRA) | 27 | 14 |
Forward | Famara Diedhiou | Alanyaspor (TUR) | 29 | 24 |
Forward | Iliman Ndiaye | Sheffield United (ENG) | 22 | 1 |
Forward | Nicolas Jackson | Villarreal (SPA) | 21 | |
Forward | Demba Seck | Torino (ITA) | 21 | 1 |
Forward | Mame Thiam | Kayserispor (TUR) | 30 | 4 |
Forwar messi ac milan shirt d | Krepin Diatta | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 25 |
Forward | Demba Seck | Torino (ITA) | 21 | 1 |
Final 26-man Senegal World Cup roster
The AFCON champions have played their final game before flying to Qatar, meaning the last chance win Cisse's admiration in a Senegal shirt has passed.
Here's a projected look at a possible 26-man list, assuming these players are fit and ready.
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper | Edouard Mendy | Chelsea (ENG) | 30 | 25 |
Goalkeeper | Alfred Gomis | Rennes (FRA) | 29 | 14 |
Goalkeeper | Seny Dieng | Queens Park Rangers (ENG) | 27 | 3 |
Defender | Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
Defender | Pape Abou Cisse | Olympiacos (GRE) | 27 | 12 |
Defender | Abdou Diallo | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 18 |
Defender | Fode Ballo-Toure | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 14 |
Defender | Saliou Ciss | Free Agent | 33 | 37 |
Defender | For messi merch mose Mendy | Amiens (FRA) | 21 | 2 |
Defender | Ismail Jakobs | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 1 |
Defender | Youssouf Sabaly | Real Betis (SPA) | 29 | 24 |
Midfielder | Joseph Lopy | Sochaux (FRA) | 30 | 7 |
Midfielder | Idrissa Gueye | Everton (ENG) | 33 | 95 |
Midfielder | Cheikhou Kouyate | Nottingham Fores (ENG) | 32 | 82 |
Midfielder | Nampalys Mendy | Leicester City (ENG) | 30 | 18 |
Midfielder | Pape Gueye | Marseille (FRA) | 23 | 11 |
Midfielder | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham (ENG) | 20 | 8 |
Midfielder | Mamadou Loum | Reading (ENG) | 25 | 3 |
psg new football kit Midfielder | Moustapha Name | Pafos (CYP) | 27 | 6 |
Forward | Sadio Mane | Bayern Munich (GER) | 30 | 92 |
Forward | Ismalia Sarr | Watford (ENG) | 24 | 47 |
Forward | Boulaye Dia | Salernitana (ITA) | 25 | 18 |
Forward | Bamba Dieng | Marseille (FRA) | 22 | 12 |
Forward | Habib Diallo | Strasbourg (FRA) | 27 | 14 |
Forward | Famara Diedhou | Alanyaspor (TUR) | 29 | 24 |
Forward | Kre psg white jersey pin Diatta | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 25 |
Senegal best player, strengths & weaknesses
Senegal seized their continental title on penalties against Egypt before qualifying for Qatar via the same method against the same heartbroken opposition in a game mired in controversy, following a dominant unbeaten run to the playoff final.
Their spot-kick pedigree could come in handy in Qatar, but the raw pace and power in this psg shirt 30 messi team will make them a formidable opponent across 90 minutes.
Stars
Cisse has built his Senegal project around a core of stars to rival any other nation. Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye and Sadio Mane are all top-class operators who know exactly what's required at this level.
Strengths
Outside of the COSAFA Cup, at which Senegal fielded a B-team, only one team has managed to score more than once past Koulibaly and company since October 2020. That was Liberia, who beat them 2-1 in July.
Pape Abou Cisse and Abdou Diallo are dependable forces at the back, ahead of UEFA Champions League winner Mendy between the sticks.
Ismalia Sarr is in fantastic form and will provide some much needed creative and goalscoring support for Mane.
Weaknesses
Reliance on Mane for goals has been a long-standing issue, with Boulaye Dia and Famara Diedhou an unconvincing set of striking options.
In comparison with the starting lineup, Senegal's bench sees a drop in quality. Depth could be a key issue in Qatar, especially with the injury risk higher at a mid-season World Cup.
The form of Nampalys Mendy will also be a concern. The 30-year-old is a reliable figure in the Senegal midfield but is struggling to get minutes at Leicester City.
Senegal World Cup group
Mane and his teammates will be confident of taking Senegal to the knockout stages for only the second time, with a group including low-ranked Ecuador and Qatar.
The Netherlands are in good form ahead of the World Cup and qualified strongly. Their opener with Senegal will be a critical, unpredictable, mouth-watering prospect.
Senegal Group A fixtures and match schedul psg shirt xxl e
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Mon, Nov. 21 | Senegal vs. Netherlands | 11 a.m. | Al Thumama Stadium |
Fri, Nov. 25 | Qatar vs. Senegal | 8 a.m. | Al Thumama Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 29 | Ecuador vs. Senegal | 10 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l Stadium |
Can Senegal replace players on World Cup roster?
Once the final 26-man roster is official, participating teams a official messi jersey t the World Cup can only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
According to the official tournament rules, "a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team's first match."
The team in question would need to submit a medical report to FIFA and if the world governing body determines "the injury or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the FIFA World Cup" then the replacement will be allowed.
The replacement player must come from the preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October.