Senegal’s national team, the Lions of Teranga, announced their first squad for the opening two fixtures of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign on Friday, 18 September 2026. The 29‑player roster, unveiled by newly appointed head coach Patrick Vieira, will be used for the qualifiers against Mozambique and Ethiopia as well as a scheduled friendly against the Comoros.
Vieira, who took charge of the Senegal side earlier this year, confirmed that the list blends experienced campaigners with emerging talent. Among the veterans called up are centre‑back Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, both of whom have been mainstays of the team in recent tournaments.
The squad also features a number of younger prospects, signalling Vieira’s intent to refresh the roster. Goalkeeper Ibrahim Mbaye, defender Mamadou Sarr and forward Bara Sapoko Ndiaye are among the “young wolves” included in the selection.
Notably absent from the list is forward Sadio Mané, who publicly announced his decision to step away from international duty and will not be part of the upcoming matches.
Senegal’s next fixtures will see them travel to face Mozambique and Ethiopia in the early stages of the AFCON 2027 qualifying round, with the friendly against the Comoros providing an additional opportunity for the new coach to assess his squad ahead of the competitive games.
<small>Source: 237actu — read the original story there.</small>
