Senegal unveils 28-player squad for 2026 World Cup with stars and rising talents

Senegal has announced its 28-player squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring global stars like Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly. Despite Koulibaly’s injury concerns, Head Coach Pape Thiaw remains optimistic about his team’s prospects in what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament. The Lions of Teranga are set to face formidable opponents, including reigning champions France, in a highly anticipated summer showdown.

The Senegalese coach emphasized his team’s “big ambitions” as they prepare to compete across North America from June 11 to July 19. Thiaw described the selected group as balanced and strategically assembled to meet the demands of the tournament, which he called “one of the most intense in football history.”

Among the standout names is Lamine Camara, the Monaco midfielder, alongside emerging talents like Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahima Mbaye (PSG), and Bayern Munich’s Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Forward Bamba Dieng also earned a call-up after an impressive season with Lorient.

Senegal’s World Cup group and opponents

Drawn in Group I, Senegal will face France, Norway, and Iraq in the group stage. Their campaign begins on June 16 against the French side led by Kylian Mbappé.

This match carries historical weight — in their only previous World Cup encounter in 2002, Senegal stunned France with a historic opening victory. Despite this legacy, Thiaw downplayed the significance of the fixture, stating: “We have three opponents. Why focus only on France? Norway and Iraq are here too.”

He added: “We have a history with France, but this isn’t a special match for me — it’s just another game.”

Full Senegal squad breakdown

Goalkeepers (3): Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahly), Mory Diaw (Le Havre), Yehvann Diouf (Nice)

Defenders (9): Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Krépin Diatta (Monaco), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC)

Midfielders (6): Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)

Forwards (10): Sadio Mané (Al Nassr), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Chérif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Cheikh Sabaly (Metz), Ibrahima Mbaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Assane Diao (Como)