Many familiar names are included in Senegal coach Pape Thiaw's squad following Thursday's press conference where Thiaw revealed his list for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Sudan and Togo. Senegal travel to face Group B leaders Sudan in Libya on March 22 before finishing up this month's fixtures three days later at home against Togo.
Experienced campaigners Sadio Mané, Édouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye will be involved in the important clashes from Group B. The Lions of Teranga will need to be at their best in the first match against Sudan, which will take place in their opponents' adopted home of Benghazi, Libya. Senegal trail group leaders Sudan by two points with DR Congo only a point behind in third place.
2026 World Cup Qualifying: Group B table (4 matches played)
Points | |
Sudan | 10 |
Senegal | 8 |
DR Congo | 7 |
Togo | 3 |
South Sudan | 2 |
Mauritania | 1 |
The group winner qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Four of the nine group runners-up qualify for a playoff to determine Africa's representative at the intercontinental qualifying playoff.
Also included in the selection of Thiaw is in form Crystal Palace attacker Ismaïla Sarr who always adds balance to the Senegalese attack on the opposite flank from Mané. With Nicolas Jackson injured, Boulaye Dia is the most experienced striker with competition from Habib Diallo and Red Star Belgrade's Cherif Ndiaye.
AS Monaco midfielder and 2023 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Best Player Lamine Camara headlines a strong midfield that includes veteran Idrissa Gueye. Another player who is playing well for his club is Villarreal's Pape Gueye who adds to the options for Thiaw along with Tottenham Hotspur dynamo Pape Matar Sarr and versatile option Krépin Diatta.
The margins are very tight in a group that can rightly be considered one of the most difficult of the nine qualifying groups. Senegal have only conceded one goal but are in a situation where defeat against Sudan will likely leave them in third place. The Lions finish up the March international window with a home match against Togo at the Stade Abdoulaye Wade in Diamniadio.
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