2024 Women's AFCON: Everything You Need to Know About Senegal

History and Women's AFCON appearances

Senegal are preparing for their third Women's AFCON finals, after those of 2012 and 2022. In 2012, on their debut, the Senegalese side went out in the first round. Ten years later, they took a step forward with a historic qualification for the quarter-finals at the tournament hosted in... Morocco. Beaten on penalties by Zambia (2-4), the Lionesses left the competition with their heads held high. This year, after impressively knocking out Egypt in qualifying (4-0 in the first leg, 0-0 in the return), they are hoping to reach the last four.

Ambitions and group analysis

Group A is anything but straightforward. With Morocco, semi-finalists in 2022 and qualifiers for the last World Cup, Zambia, bronze medallists in 2022 and also World Cup participants, and a DR Congo side built around the core of TP Mazembe, recent winners of the Women's Champions League, Senegal will have to rise to the occasion. But the Lionesses have strengths of their own. "There is a group today that wants to write a new chapter in its history", says head coach Mame Moussa Cissé. Drawing on their experience of 2022, the Senegalese team are clearly aiming for the semi-finals. Key players such as Korka Fall, Safietou Sagna and Ndeye Awa Diakhaté embody this blend of experience and ambition. Tactical discipline, defensive solidarity and efficiency on the counter could be the keys to this campaign.

Read more on the same subject: 2024 Women's AFCON: everything you need to know about Morocco, African runners-up

Senegalese players to watch

Ndeye Awa Diakhaté: A forward with OM, she was the first player to score at an AFCON finals for Senegal, in 2022. Technical, quick and very clinical in front of goal, she will be a major attacking threat.

Safietou Sagna: The captain embodies rigour and composure. A powerful right-back and a leader in the dressing room as much as on the pitch, she will be essential in the duels against the explosive wingers in Group A.

Korka Fall: The experienced Senegalese midfielder brings stability to the middle of the park and a fine passing range. Her top-level experience can make the difference in the key moments.

The coach: Mame Moussa Cissé

In charge of the Lionesses for several years, Mame Moussa Cissé is a methodical and ambitious coach. After leading Senegal to the quarter-finals in 2022, he now wants to take them a step further. In a statement to CAF, he gave a clear-eyed assessment of what is at stake at this tournament: "It's a tough group. There are some big teams in this group. Morocco, as hosts to begin with, are a country that went to the last World Cup and got good results. Zambia too, who were at the last one in Canada, who also went to the World Cup. Those are two very big teams. DR Congo, even though they didn't make this World Cup, have a squad... it's TP Mazembe, who won the last CAF Women's Champions League. These are really big nations. But alongside them, there's also Senegal, who played in the last Women's AFCON and had, in my view, a very interesting experience. There is a group today that wants to write a new chapter in its history. I think it's going to be a group with some very intense matches. We need to give ourselves the means to have a good AFCON."

Senegal's fixtures in Group A:

Sunday 6 July 2025:

14:00: Senegal v DR Congo

Wednesday 9 July 2025

16:00: Senegal v Zambia

Saturday 12 July 2025

19:00: Morocco v Senegal