Reigning African champions Senegal carry the continent’s best hope of breaking new barriers at the World Cup finals, and atoning for a miserable last tournament in Russia where they were eliminated on disciplinary points by Japan.
Senegal are one of three African nations who have reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup, following on Cameroon’s 1990 exploits with a dream debut in 2002, which included beating holders France in the opening game of the tournament.Ghana have since also progressed to the last eight in 2010 but that was the last time Africa proved able to make an impression on the tournament.
In Russia four years ago, all five of the continent’s representatives exited in the first round, including Senegal, who were tied with Japan but lost out because they had collected more bookings in their opening three games.
The team has had a significant overhaul since, boosted by a contingent of French-born players, including goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, defender Abdou Diallo and midfielders Pape Gueye and Nampalys Mendy.
Senegal have put much effort into recruiting players from the growing European-based diaspora, and to good effect, contributing to their winning the African title for the first time in February.
But it was stalwarts like captain Kalildou Koulibaly, Sadio Mane, and Idrissa Gana Gueye who proved the backbone of their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, and will provide the driving force for the team.
COACH
ALIOU CISSE
Another World Cup for Cisse after captaining Senegal in 2002 and coaching them in Russia four years ago. He took over from Alain Giresse as coach of Senegal in March 2015 on an open-ended contract, having been shifted up from his job in charge of the under-23 side. After he finished playing at Paris St Germain, Montpellier, Birmingham and Portsmouth, went home to coach with the Senegal Football Federation and through the ranks with the national junior teams. His shares rose up even higher after leading the Lions of Teranga to their first Cup of Nations title in February.
PROFILE
GK
Seny DIENG
His father is Senegalese and his mother Swiss and was born in Zurich and won a contract at Queens Park Rangers in 2016 after going over to London for a trial. This season he got a rare goal for a goalkeeper with a last-minute header away at Sunderland.
Alfred GOMIS
Grew up in Italy and is one of three goalkeeper brothers, with elder brother Lys having also played for Senegal and middle brother Maurice for Guinea Bissau. Gomis’ hobby is reading books and he is known as something of an ‘intellectual’ at his French club Stade Rennes.
Eduoard MENDY
World Goalkeeper of the Year for 2021, he played a handful of friendlies for Guinea Bissau, where his father hailed from, against Portuguese clubs before choosing the land of his mother. Born in France, his cousin Ferland Mendy plays for Real Madrid and Les Blues.
DF
Formose MENDY
FC Porto signed him after watching him play at the African Youth Championships in 2019, where Senegal were runners-up but his breakthrough came last year when he signed a four-year deal at Amiens in the French second division. He made his Senegal debut in September against Bolivia.
Kalidou KOULIBALY
Captain of the team who is French born but made his Senegal debut in 2015 and is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in world football. After eight seasons at Napoli, he has moved to Chelsea for a transfer fee of 38-million euros.
Pape Abou CISSE
At 1.97m he might be the tallest player at the World Cup, and is one of the few home-grown products in the Senegal set-up. He was a league winner in Senegal with AS Pikine before moving to Ajaccio in France, St Etienne and Olympiakos in Greece, where he has featured in this season’s Europa League.
Abdou DIALLO
Switched international allegiance after playing for France at under-21 level and played every minute of Senegal’s successful campaign at the Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon this year. At club level, however, he was not a regular at PSG and so has made the switch to the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig this season.
Fode BALLO-TOURE
Injury has restricted his appearances at left back for Senegal since he switched allegiance after playing for France at under-21 level but his performance for AC Milan suggests he will make an impact this season. A product of the PSG academy, he sat on the bench for the first team when he was 19 but never got to play for them.
Ismail JAKOBS
Option on the flank for Senegal, catching the eye after moving to Monaco and winning caps for Germany at under-21 level. He is among the newer players drafted in to help with a crisis at full back. He started his career at home town club FC Cologne, where he has two brothers in the junior teams.
Moussa NIAKHATE
Got his first call up from Senegal in September, having just moved to English Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest from Mainz in the Bundesliga. He is originally from France, for whom he won caps at youth level and where he played at Metz and Valenciennes.
Saliou CISS
Was one of the stars of the Cup of Nations tournament in January-February although his club profile in France’s Ligue 2 belied his performance. Now his World Cup place is in jeopardy, after 10 years in the Senegal team, after failing to secure a club for the new season.
Youssouf SABALY
French-born right back who missed out on the Cup of Nations success but was recalled in March to help the team qualify for Qatar. He signed his first professional contract at PSG but most of his career has been at Girondins Bordeaux, who were relegated last season, prompting him to leave for Real Betis in Spain.
MD
Idrissa Gana GUEYE
Longest-serving member of the squad who could be the first Senegalese to get to 100 caps if the team get past the first round in Qatar. Back at Everton after three seasons at PSG. He has also played at Lille and Aston Villa and made his Senegal debut in November 2011.
Nampalys MENDY
Has proven unable to convince the Leicester City manager, Brendan Rogers, of his ability, but is a key member of the Senegal midfield despite a lack of playing time at club level in England. Last season he only played for the Leicester team from March to May and this season is still waiting for playing time, despite the club struggling.
Cheikhou KOUYATE
Won his first cap in 2012 and played all three games at the last World Cup, captaining the team in their last group match in Moscow. He won four league titles in Belgium with Anderlecht before moving to West Ham United, then Crystal Palace and is now with newly promoted Nottingham Forest.
Pathe CISS
A product of the Diambars academy in Dakar which has become a prodigious conveyor belt of talent. They sold him to Uniao Madeira in Portugal and he has since moved to Spain with Rayo Vallecano, where his LaLiga game time brought him to the attention of Senegal, who handed him a debut for the first time in September.
Krepin DIATTA
Versatile midfielder who Monaco paid Club Brugge 17-million euros for in 2021 but who has struggled with injury, only recently returning to action. It is a major boost for Senegal who picked him when he was only 20 to play at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Pape Matar SARR
Signed by Tottenham Hotspur from Metz when still only 18 and included in Senegal’s Cup of Nations squad, although he played only 12 minutes at the tournament. He made a strong impact at the Under-17 World Cup in 2019 in Brazil where Senegal reached the knockout stage and continued a swift upward trajectory.
Moustapha NAME
Played at top Senegal club AS Douanes where his goal-scoring feats in the league attracted overseas attention and saw him move to lower league French club Pau. He has won five caps for Senegal over the last two years, mostly as defensive midfield cover.
Moustapha LOUM
Defensive midfielder, and squad member at the 2022 Cup of Nations finals, who is spending the season on loan at Reading from FC Porto. He was discovered as Senegal reached the semifinal of the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015, and has also spent some time playing in Spain.
Pape GUEYE
Took some persuading to choose Senegal over France, winning his first cap last November and playing all but one game as they won the Cup of Nations at the start of 2022. He was the subject of a transfer dispute between Olympique Marseille and Watford, which earned him a brief Fifa ban.
FW
Boulaye DIA
Another French-born player, likely to lead the attack in Qatar despite constant chopping and changing of centre forwards in the team. Made his professional debut at Stade Reims, but after three seasons moved on a five-year deal to Villarreal. This season he is on loan at Salernitana.
Sadio MANE
Reigning African Footballer of the Year who is the team’s talisman and has scored over 30 goals for his country. In his home village of Bambali he has built a hospital and school and hands out financial support to numerous families in need, using the money he has made from the game for good deeds.
Ismaila SARR
His driving play down the right is a key element to Senegal’s attacking approach and he should earn a 50th cap in Qatar despite being only 24. He was only 17 when he played for Senegal’s under-23 team. English club Watford paid 30-milion euros for him from Stade Rennes in France.
Bamba DIENG
His French club Olympique Marseille wanted to offload him but failed to find a buyer on transfer deadline day, leaving his club career in limbo just months before the Qatar World Cup kicks off. He was hoping to move to Leeds United and when that fell through turned down a move to Belgium.
Ilimane NDIAYE
Made his Senegal debut in June after performances in the Championship for Sheffield United alerted the west Africans to his ability. He had been a junior at Olympique Marseille but his first contract was with English non-league club Boreham Wood.
Nicolas JACKSON
Right-sided attacker who was born in the Gambia but grew up in Senegal from where he moved to Spain as a teenager. Last season Villarreal used him as a substitute only but this campaign he has made his full debut in LaLiga and got his first goal against Real Valladolid in August.
Demba SECK
Made his Serie A debut for Torino in April, having grown up in Italy, and was called up to the Senegal squad for the first time in September. He started at SPAL in Serie B before moving to Torino and is still one for the future with there being much excitement about his potential.
Famara DIEDHIOU
Striker who faces a race against time to recover from injury for the World Cup after missing the kick-off of the new season in Turkey, where he plays at Alanyaspor. Grew up in France where he played in Ligue 1 at Angers before moving to Bristol City in England where he spent four seasons.
Habib DIALLO
Struggles to hold down a regular Senegal squad place despite a consistent goal-scoring record in Ligue 1 where he plays for Racing Strasbourg. His first professional contract was at Metz in France and he made his Senegal debut in 2018.