Senegal secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after dominating CAF Qualifying Group B. The Lions of Teranga finished unbeaten with 24 points from seven wins and three draws, edging out DR Congo, Sudan, Togo, Mauritania, and South Sudan. They opened with a 4-0 home win over South Sudan, but a subsequent run of three straight draws limited them to just six points from their next four matches and allowed DR Congo to climb above them. Senegal then won away to DR Congo to reclaim top spot, and further victories over South Sudan (5-0) and Mauritania (4-0 at home) sealed their place on October 15, 2025.
The squad announcement was headlined by Sadio Mane. After missing the previous edition, Senegal's all-time leading scorer will be eager to display his talent on the global stage, where his pace, experience, finishing, and leadership both on and off the pitch make him a standout. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly, with 103 caps, ranks among the most experienced members of the group, while Idrissa Gana Gueye holds the national record with 131 appearances. Other key players include Pape Matar Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Senegal can also rely on an exceptionally talented young generation led by Assane Diao, Lamine Camara, and Bara Sapoko Ndiaye. Another name that drew attention was Ibrahim Mbaye, the promising PSG prospect who continues to rise through French football.
Senegal is part of Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq. The Lions of Teranga open their campaign against France on June 16 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They remain in the New York area to face Norway at the same venue on June 22, before traveling to Toronto, Ontario, to take on Iraq on June 26 at BMO Field.
Senegal 2026 World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Édouard Mendy (Al-Ahli), Mory Diaw (Le Havre AC), Yehvann Diouf (OGC Nice)
Defenders: Krépin Diatta (AS Monaco), Antoine Mendy (OGC Nice), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea), Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Ismaïl Jakobs (Galatasaray SK)
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Villarreal CF), Lamine Camara (AS Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Chérif Ndiaye (Samsunspor)
