2026: All to know about Senegal
Senegal is one of the ten African nations qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Aligned in Group I alongside France, Norway and Iraq, the Lions approach this competition as the flagship nation of the African continent.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Identity card
Nickname: The Lions
Federation: Senegalese Football Federation (FSF)
FIFA Ranking: 15th
Selector: Pape Thiaw
Iconic captain: Kalidou Koulibaly
History in the World Cup: 4th participation after 2002, 2018, 2022
The qualification
First in their qualification group without conceding a single defeat, Senegal won their ticket to the United States with authority. Two months after this qualification, the Lions confirmed their status as a great African nation by winning the Africa Cup of Nations. A final against Morocco whose final result was reversed by CAF Appeals Panel, the Court of Arbitration for Sport now having to decide on the winner of this edition
In a very strong group I, composed of France, Norway and Iraq, the primary objective of Senegal will be to finish in the first two places to ensure its qualification for the sixteenth finals. Once this milestone crossed, the Lions will be able to nourish greater ambitions and dream of erasing the stinging memory of the last-16 against England four years ago, which ended with a heavy 3-0 defeat. A second quarter-final in the World Cup, twenty-four years after the first one, would be a consecration for an entire generation.
The man to lead Senegal
Substitute center-forward during the legendary Senegalese epic of 2002, Pape Thiaw had played only one game in this World Cup that led his selection to the quarterfinals. Yet he remains an actor in the story: in the last 16 against Sweden, it was him who delivered the decisive pass on the golden goal of Henri Camara. Twenty-four years later, the 45-year-old coach is about to experience his first World Cup on a bench, with a successful AFC but without much coaching experience at the highest level before taking over the reins of the team. A shadow hovers over his American adventure: his contract with the Senegalese federation, which expired in February, has still not been extended.
The 26 Lions selected for the 2026 World Cup
Keepers
Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli)
Mory Diaw (Le Havre)
Yehvann Diouf (Nice)
Defenders
Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray)
El Hadj Malick Diouf (West Ham)
Krépin Diatta (Monaco)
Antoine Mendy (Nice)
Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal)
Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa)
Moussa Niakhaté (OL)
Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea)
Midfielders
Habib Diarra (Sunderland)
Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham)
Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano)
Pape Gueye (Villarreal)
Lamine Camara (Monaco)
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)
Attackers
Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr)
Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace)
Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG)
Assane Diao (Come)
Iliman Ndiaye (Everton)
Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor)
Bamba Dieng (Lorient)
Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich)
Three players to watch
1. Sadio Mané
At 34, Sadio Mané remains the strong man and symbol of the Senegalese national team. With two goals and two assists in the last AFCON in Morocco, the former left winger of Liverpool, winner of the Champions League in 2019 with the Reds, embodies the leadership of the Lions on and off the field. The 2026 World Cup will only be his second in a huge career: in Qatar in 2022, an injury to the right fibula had forced him to withdraw just days before the kick-off, depriving Senegal of his best player at the worst moment. This World Cup, which will be his last tournament with Senegal, is therefore of particular importance for him who has scored 56 goals with the Lions.
2. Ibrahim Mbaye
After the 34 years of Sadio Mané, we make the big gap with the 18 years of Ibrahim Mbaye. European Champion once again with Paris Saint-Germain, the winger is already an essential part of the Lions, whom he joined in November 2025. The proof in numbers: 3 goals and 5 assists in 10 games this season.
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
The other young ace to watch during this World Cup on the Senegalese side is Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. It’s the big surprise on Pape Thiaw’s list. He also plays for a top European club, Bayern Munich. Nevertheless, he only has 4 appearances with the Bavarians, and is already summoned to the national team. No doubt that observers will have a keen eye on his performance.