Senegal boss Aliou Cisse has announced his 26-man squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. So, who joins Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane in the Lions of Teranga’s best possible XI?
Mane was a doubt to make Cisse’s squad after sustaining a fibula injury during Der FCB’s 6-1 win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday. But the 92-cap international will fly to the Middle East to compete in Group A with the host nation, Qatar, plus the Netherlands and Ecuador.
Senegal start their tournament against the Netherlands on November 21 before taking on Qatar on the 25th and Ecuador on the 29th. The Lions of Teranga will hope to advance out of their group at a World Cup for just the second time after making the 2002 quarter-finals.
Cisse names a 26-man Senegal squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Qatar 2022 is only the third World Cup that Senegal have featured in after first qualifying for the 2002 edition in Japan and South Korea. The West Africans would not return to the FIFA stage until the 2018 edition in Russia. But the Lions of Teranga would end Group H in third.
The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has now announced the 26 men Cisse is taking to Qatar. He has called up three goalkeepers, seven defenders, nine midfielders and seven forwards for Senegal’s World Cup squad. Cisse has also signed a new contract until 2024.
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers), Alfred Gomis (Stade Rennais)
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig – on loan from Paris Saint-Germain), Ismail Jakobs (AS Monaco), Formose Mendy (Amiens SC), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Fode Ballo-Toure (AC Milan)
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Mamadou Loum (Reading – on loan from FC Porto), Papa Gueye (Marseille), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Krepin Diatta (Monaco)
Forwards: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana – on loan from Villarreal), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor)
So, with Cisse naming his 26-man squad that will represent Senegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, HITC Football has taken a look at the Lions of Teranga’s best XI including Mane…
Edouard Mendy (GK): The Chelsea star helped Senegal win AFCON 2021
Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy helped Senegal win their first Africa Cup of Nations title back in February. The 25-cap star saved a penalty to beat Egypt 4-2 in a shootout in the final. He is now set for his World Cup debut after making his Senegal bow following the 2018 edition.
Youssouf Sabaly (RB): The Real Betis ace was right to turn his back on France
Sabaly is off to a second World Cup with Senegal after Cisse named the Real Betis ace in his squad. The 29-year-old started all three of their fixtures in Russia and laid on one assist. He made his debut in 2017 after turning his back on France after caps at U17 to 21 levels.
Kalidou Koulibaly (CB): The Chelsea rock will captain Senegal at the World Cup
Koulibaly will captain Senegal during the World Cup in Qatar after taking over the armband in 2019. The 64-cap 31-year-old is also returning to the FIFA tournament after playing each minute of the Lions of Teranga’s campaign in 2018. They beat Poland 2-1 for their only win.
Abdou Diallo (CB): The French native has become a key player under Cisse
Diallo has become a key player in the Senegal set-up under Cisse since turning his back on France in 2021. The 26-year-old, born in Tours, had represented Les Blues at U16-21 levels. But he never earned a senior France cap and has since started all 18 of his Senegal outings.
Fode Ballo-Toure (LB): Cisse found his favoured full-back in a French-born star
Cisse also found his favoured full-back in a French-born gem who represented Les Bleus at U16 to 21 levels in Ballo-Toure. The AC Milan defender made his Lions of Teranga debut in March 2021 and has started six of his 14 outings. But the 25-year-old is yet to get an assist.
Nampalys Mendy (CDM): The Leicester man accepted his future was not with France
Mendy accepted his international future was not with France in March 2021 when the 30-year-old made his Senegal bow. The Leicester midfielder had represented Les Blues at U17 to 23 levels. But he last played for France in 2014 and has now earned 19 caps for Senegal.
Idrissa Gana Gueye (CM): The Everton ace has been a Senegal mainstay since 2011
Everton star Gueye has been a mainstay of the Senegal set-up since November 2011 and now boasts 93 caps. Among his outings, the 33-year-old from Dakar featured three times at Russia 2018 and laid on one assist. He also scored once over six games at AFCON 2021.
Pape Matar Sarr (CM): Failing to feature for Tottenham has not stopped Cisse
Sarr failing to feature regularly in Antonio Conte’s matchday squads – let alone play games for Tottenham – has not stopped Cisse announcing the 20-year-old in Senegal’s World Cup squad. The Thiaroye native has been a part of his plans since March 2021 and has 10 caps.
Ismaila Sarr (RW): The Watford winger will look to improve his World Cup record
Watford winger Sarr will look to improve his record at World Cups after making Senegal’s Qatar 2022 squad. The 24-year-old failed to score or lay on an assist at Russia 2018. Even though the 46-cap – for 10 goals and three assists – ace played all 270 minutes available.
Boulaye Dia (ST): Cisse is betting on the Salernitana loanee finding some goals
Cisse is betting on Dia finding his scoring boots at the World Cup after only scoring twice across 19 caps. The Oyonnax, France-born forward has also started 15 of his appearances for Senegal. Yet he is delivering on loan to Salernitana with six goals in his first 13 games.
Sadio Mane (LW): Bayern Munich eased Senegal’s World Cup injury fears
Reports by L’Equipe sparked fears that Mane would miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a tendon injury. But Bayern Munich responded and issued a statement only ruling the 30-year-old out of their trip to Schalke on November 12 with the fibula problem he sustained.
Bayern Munich also stated the club was in touch with the FSF regarding Mane’s availability for Senegal at the World Cup in Qatar. Now, Cisse has announced Der FCB’s £35m summer signing from Liverpool will be heading to the Middle East with the other 25 players named.
Qatar 2022 is Mane’s second World Cup after captaining Cisse’s squad in two of Senegal’s three games in Russia. He also hit one of the 92-cap star’s 33 goals in a Lions of Teranga jersey from close range to break the deadlock in a 2-2 draw with Japan in Yekaterinburg.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
