Senegal
African power, Sadio Mane's last dance
Africa's powerhouse, with Sadio Mane's last World Cup — now facing an early test after losing to France.
Watchability4/5
Drama4/5
Star power4/5
Title shot2/5
Team rating
82TEAM
- Attack82
- Midfield79
- Defense83
Next matches
- Next upvs NorwayMetLife Stadium, East RutherfordJun 22
- vs IraqBMO Field, TorontoJun 26
The read
Senegal are the reigning African champions, a side packed with players from Europe's best clubs and led by Sadio Mané on what he's called his final World Cup — an elegiac edge to the whole campaign. But they lost their opener to France 3-1, so the margin is gone: they sit third in the group on zero points and now have to win to keep the farewell alive.
The fan’s readAfrica's recent powerhouse with elite players across Europe and Sadio Mane on his elegiac last World Cup — a legend chasing the one trophy that eluded him with the clock loudly ticking.
The cast
- Pape ThiawSenegal coach since late 2024 — a hero of their 2002 World Cup run, promoted to replace long-time boss Aliou Cissémanager
- Sadio Mane ★A continental legend on his last World Cup — and his farewell opened with a loss he now has to answer.ClubAl-Nassr
- Pape Matar SarrThe kind of midfielder who makes a team feel like it has twelve men.ClubTottenham Hotspur
- Lamine CamaraOne of Ligue 1's best young midfielders who drives the ball, not just holds it.ClubAS Monaco
- Ismaila SarrGet him in behind a back line and it is a footrace he wins.ClubCrystal Palace
- Kalidou KoulibalyOne of the best center-backs of the past decade on an almost-certain last global stage.ClubAl-Hilal
- Nicolas JacksonA Chelsea striker all pace and energy — runs the channels ragged and misses the odd sitter, but the menace is constant.ClubChelsea
Key moments
- 20022002 — the debut stunnerIn their first-ever World Cup match, unfancied Senegal beat the defending world champions, France, 1-0 in the opening game — one of the great upsets — then stormed to the quarterfinals.
- 2021African championsSenegal won the Africa Cup of Nations — the continental championship — for the first time in their history, beating Egypt on penalties in the final, with Sadio Mané scoring the decisive kick.