Senegal could be Africa’s strongest representative at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, boasting a squad well-equipped to threaten the best that Europe, Asia, and South America have to offer.
Although the English, German and Italian leagues are full of top talent, the Africa Cup of Nations champions are an unpredictable quantity.
It will be the third World Cup appearance for the Lions of Teranga, two decades after a run to the quarter-finals in 2002 – which included Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, and a sensational opening match win against France.
This result is the biggest shock result in the history of the World Cup.
During his seven years at the helm, coach Aliou Cisse has nurtured a golden generation of Senegalese talent into a skilled, dangerous force. They will be a team to ignore in Qatar.
Senegal World Cup 2022 squad
Senegal coach Aliou Cisse was sweating on star man Sadio Mane’s fitness before announcing his squad for Qatar but later decided to include him before it was confirmed he would have to withdraw.
The Bayern Munich attacker had hoped to be fit for the opener against the Netherlands on November 21 but confirmed he would need surgery after picking up a foot injury in his club’s last game in Senegal’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen. Must be returned by the team.
Senegal was forced to make another late change to the squad ahead of their first match, when it was deemed that young defender Ismail Jacobs was ineligible to play in the tournament, forcing him to drop him from the squad and replace him with Moussa Ndia.
Senegal World Cup squad 2022
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Edouard Mendy | Chelsea (ENG) | 30 | 25 |
| GK | 25 | Alfred Gomis | Rennes (FRA) | 29 | 14 |
| GK | 23 | Seny Dieng | Queens Park Rangers (ENG) | 27 | 3 |
| DEF | 3 | Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
| DEF | 12 | Pape Abou Cisse | Olympiacos (GRE) | 27 | 12 |
| DEF | 4 | Abdou Diallo | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 18 |
| DEF | 22 | Fode Ballo-Toure | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 14 |
| DEF | 14 | Moustapha Name | Pafos (CYP) | 27 | 6 |
| DEF | 11 | Formose Mendy | Amiens (FRA) | 21 | 2 |
| DEF | 6 | Moussa Ndiaye | Anderlecht (BEL) | 20 | 0 |
| DEF | 7 | Youssouf Sabaly | Real Betis (SPA) | 29 | 24 |
| DEF | 8 | Cheikhou Kouyate | Nottingham Forest (ENG) | 32 | 82 |
| MID | 5 | Idrissa Gueye | Everton (ENG) | 33 | 95 |
| MID | 6 | Nampalys Mendy | Leicester City (ENG) | 30 | 18 |
| MID | 13 | Pape Gueye | Marseille (FRA) | 23 | 11 |
| MID | 17 | Pape Matar Sarr | Tottenham (ENG) | 20 | 8 |
| MID | 24 | Mamadou Loum N’Diaye | Reading (ENG) | 25 | 3 |
| MID | 16 | Pathe Ciss | Rayo Vallecano (SPA) | 28 | 0 |
| MID | 15 | Krepin Diatta | Monaco (FRA) | 23 | 25 |
| FWD | 18 | Ismalia Sarr | Watford (ENG) | 24 | 47 |
| FWD | 21 | Boulaye Dia | Salernitana (ITA) | 25 | 18 |
| FWD | 20 | Bamba Dieng | Marseille (FRA) | 22 | 12 |
| FWD | 9 | Iliman Ndiaye | Sheffield United (ENG) | 27 | 14 |
| FWD | 19 | Famara Diedhou | Alanyaspor (TUR) | 29 | 24 |
| FWD | 25 | Nicolas Jackson | Villarreal (SPA) | 21 | 22 |
Senegal’s Best Players, Strengths and Weaknesses
Senegal qualified for Qatar via the same method after an impressive unbeaten run to the play-off final against similarly heartbreaking opposition before qualifying for Qatar before capturing their continental title on penalties against Egypt.
Their spot-kick pedigree may come in handy in Qatar, but this team’s raw pace and power will make them a formidable opponent over 90 minutes.
STARS
Cisse has built his Senegal project around a core of stars to rival any other nation. Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gueye, and Sadio Mane are all top-class operators who know what is required at this level but will be looking for someone to fill the void as they are no longer available.
POWERS
Outside of the COSAFA Cup, in which Senegal played in a B-team field, only one team has managed to score more than Koulibaly and Co. since October 2020. That was Liberia, who beat them 2-1 in July.
Pape Abou Cisse and Abdou Diallo are reliable forces at the back, with UEFA Champions League winner Mendy between the sticks up front.
Ismalia Sarr is in fantastic form and will provide some much-needed creative and goal-scoring support.
WEAKNESS
Reliance on Mane for goals has long been an issue, with Boule Dia and Famara Didou an unreliable set of striking options but they must step up now.
Compared to the starting lineup, Senegal’s bench sees a drop in quality. Depth could be a major issue in Qatar, especially with injury risk high in the mid-season World Cup.
Nampalis Mendi’s farm will also be a matter of concern. The 30-year-old Senegalese is a reliable figure in midfield but has struggled to get minutes at Leicester City.