DAKAR — The Senegalese Football Federation has officially announced its provisional 28-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The squad selection, engineered by head coach Pape Thiaw a key member of Senegal’s historic 2002 quarter-final squad is headlined by the emotional return of all-time top scorer Sadio Mané. The 34 year old Al Nassr forward is poised to make his return to the global stage after a devastating leg injury cruelly ruled him out of the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Thiaw has maintained the experienced spine of the team, selecting core veterans including Al Ahli goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, and team captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who is expected to fully recover from a minor thigh injury sustained in early April.
Senegal's Provisional 28-Man World Cup Squad
• Goalkeepers: Mory Diaw, Yehvann Diouf, Édouard Mendy.
• Defenders: Ilay Camara, Krépin Diatta, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Ismail Jakobs, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moustapha Mbow, Antoine Mendy, Moussa Niakhaté, Mamadou Sarr, Abdoulaye Seck.
• Midfielders: Lamine Camara, Pathé Ciss, Habib Diarra, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye.
• Attackers: Assane Diao, Bamba Dieng, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mané, Ibrahim Mbaye, Chérif Ndiaye, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaïla Sarr.
Note: All rosters remain provisional until FIFA publishes the finalized 26-man lists on June 2.
Surprising Cuts and a Youth Infusion
The competitive depth of Senegal's talent pool resulted in several shocking omissions. Thiaw opted to overhaul his frontline by dropping high-profile forwards Boulaye Dia, Habib Diallo, and Cheikh Sabaly, alongside defender Nobel Mendy. Former regular anchors Malang Sarr and Nampalys Mendy were also left out of the traveling party. In their place, FC Lorient striker Bamba Dieng earned a recall following a brilliant scoring run to end his domestic campaign in France.
Crucially, Thiaw has injected massive youthful energy into the roster by handing tournament spots to two highly-rated teenagers: 18-year-old midfielder Bara Sapoko Ndiaye of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain's explosive 17-year-old forward Ibrahim Mbaye. They join an elite Premier League contingent featuring Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.
A Historic Rematch and Group I Layout
The tournament serves as a highly anticipated reset for the Teranga Lions following a turbulent start to the year, which saw their January Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final victory over Morocco overturned by CAF on appeal in March due to an ongoing walk-off dispute.
Senegal faces a fascinating, narrative-rich path in Group I, kicking off with a blockbuster opening match against former world champions France on June 16 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The fixture marks a highly anticipated rematch of their legendary 2002 World Cup opening day upset, where a Thiaw-led Senegal defeated the reigning champions 1-0.
The Lions will remain in New Jersey to face Erling Haaland's Norway on June 22, before flying north to the Toronto Stadium on June 26 for their final group stage showdown against Iraq.
Head coach Pape Thiaw blends veteran legends from the Lions' golden generation with dynamic European teenagers for a highly anticipated Group I campaign.
