World Cup (Q): Star players called for Senegal’s crucial qualifiers

Senegal are approaching a successful mission to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and coach Pape Thiaw will bring in his experienced stars to finish the job in October. Sadio Mané, Édouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are among the players brought in for games against South Sudan and Mauritania.

 

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Wins from both matches, against teams who are already eliminated from contention to qualify, will punch Senegal’s ticket to the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Senegal put themselves in a strong position to win Group B with a crucial victory in Kinshasa against closest competitors DR Congo in September to seize first place.

South Sudan will host the Lions of Teranga in Juba on October 10 before Senegal host Mauritania four days later. Mané is joined by Ismaïla Sarr as well as Nicolas Jackson and Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Pape Matar Sarr, who leads all scorers in Group B with four goals.

Experienced campaigners Idrissa Gana Gueye and Nampalys Mendy are part of the midfield group, which also calls upon the services of AS Monaco star Lamine Camara along with Pape Gueye (Villarreal).

Koulibaly headlines an intriguing group of defenders with usual central partner Moussa Niakhaté. On the flanks, Krepin Diatta and West Ham United sensation El Hadji Malick Diouf and Galatasaray’s Ismail Jakobs offer attacking ability from the fullback positions. Anderlecht’s Ilay Camara, who recently switched allegiance from Belgium, is another versatile option who can operate out wide in defense or attack.

Senegal currently lead DR Congo by two points at the top of the group and also have an easier schedule compared to the Leopards, who must travel to face a tricky Togo side before concluding their Group B schedule at home against Sudan.