Head coach Pape Thiaw has named his squad for the upcoming international window as Senegal national football team prepare for friendly matches against Peru national football team and Gambia national football team.
Senegal will take on Peru in Paris on March 28 before facing Gambia on March 31, with both matches serving as part of their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The fixtures offer Thiaw a chance to assess his options and fine tune the squad ahead of the tournament.
The biggest talking point from the squad announcement is the absence of captain Sadio Mane, who has not been included in the team for this round of matches. His omission comes at a tense period for Senegalese football following the recent controversy surrounding the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Senegal are already looking ahead to the World Cup, where they have been drawn in a challenging group alongside France national football team and Norway national football team, with one more team still to qualify through the playoffs.
In goal, Thiaw has selected Edouard Mendy, Yehvann Diouf and Mory Diaw, while the defensive line includes experienced names such as Kalidou Koulibaly and Moussa Niakhate alongside several younger options.
The midfield unit features Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye and Pape Matar Sarr, providing a blend of experience and energy, while the attack will be led by options including Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr and Boulaye Dia.
The friendlies come in the wake of Senegal being stripped of their AFCON title by the Confederation of African Football, who awarded the trophy to Morocco national football team after ruling that Senegal’s walk off during the final breached competition regulations.
That final had originally ended in a 1-0 extra time win for Senegal, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal after Morocco missed a late penalty taken by Brahim Diaz. The match was interrupted when Senegal players temporarily left the pitch in protest, an action that later led to disciplinary consequences.
Despite the referee allowing the game to be completed, CAF’s Appeals Board overturned the result, prompting outrage from Senegal. The Senegalese Football Federation is now set to challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
With the legal battle ongoing and preparations for the World Cup gathering pace, the upcoming matches against Peru and Gambia will give Thiaw an important opportunity to refocus the squad and build momentum on the pitch.
