African Champions Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse set to name a star-studded 2022 Fifa World Cup squad on Friday, November 11, ahead of their opener against the Netherlands.

Senegalese Football Federation have confirmed that the 2021 African champions will announce their final 26-man squad ahead of their opener at the 40,000-seater Al Thumama Stadium, a venue steeped in culture and tradition.

Without exaggeration, Senegal faces tough matches in Group A against the Netherlands, hosts Qatar and Ecuador.

They will face host Qatar in their second World Cup outing on Friday, November 25th, at the same venue Al Thumama before their final group A contest against South America’s west coast side Ecuador at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Global soccer pundits believe that the Teranga Lions squad is full of talent, as in the 2002 World Cup when they reached the last eight.

Bayern Munich striker Sadio Mane, Chelsea duo Édouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are some of the important names expected in the squad.

However, Senegal forward Sadio Mane, who was forced off with an apparent knee injury 20 minutes into Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga 6-1 win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday, just a few days before the World Cup, is now a doubt.

Senegal’s Fixtures Group A (All times EAT)
Monday 21 November: Senegal vs Netherlands – 16:00

Friday 25 November: Qatar vs Senegal – 13:00

Tuesday 29 November: Ecuador vs Senegal – 15:00

Expected squad

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Alfred Gomis (Rennes), Seny Dieng (QPR).

Defenders:  Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest), Bouna Sarr (Bayern Munich)Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Fode Ballo-Toure (Milan), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco)

Midfielders: Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester), Moustapha Name (Patos), Boubakary Soumare (Leicester), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest) 

Forwards: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Famara Diédhiou (Alanyaspor), Bamba Dieng (Marseille) 

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