African Representatives at FIFA World Cup 2026 – Focus on SENEGAL – Profile, History
For the third successive time, Senegal will play at a World Cup where they make a repeat of the 2002 opener with France before clashes against Norway and Iraq. The Lions of Teranga are one of the most prolific African sides expected to go far and will aim to replicating their debut campaign in Korea/Japan. […] The post African Representatives at FIFA World Cup 2026 – Focus on SENEGAL – Profile, History appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
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For the third successive time, Senegal will play at a World Cup where they make a repeat of the 2002 opener with France before clashes against Norway and Iraq.
The Lions of Teranga are one of the most prolific African sides expected to go far and will aim to replicating their debut campaign in Korea/Japan.
Head Coach – Pape Thiaw
Thiaw was part of the historic 2002 squad that reached the quarter finals of the Fifa World Cup on their debut.
The current head coach played a crucial role as the Lions of Teranga reached the quarter final and set up the winner for Henri Camara as they eliminated Sweden in the round of 16.
He was also part of the team that reached the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in 2002 when they lost to Cameroon on penalties.
For that matter, no person is better placed to lead Senegal at 2026 World Cup than Thiaw who also led the team to winning the second Afcon title early this year in Morocco.
Thiaw has gone through the ranks since he retired in 2009 with first assignment being coaching the second-string side who compete in the CAF African Nations Championship (which is only open to domestic-based players), he served as assistant to former team-mate Aliou Cisse with the A-team. Following his departure, he moved into the main hotseat, initially as a caretaker before his appointment was made permanent in December 2024.
Thiaw slotted seamlessly into the role, picking up where Cisse had left off.
How they qualified
The Lions of Teranga topped a tough group that had DR Congo which they won in Kinsasha despite falling 2-goals behind.
That was the turning point in the qualification campaign in which they scored 22 goals and conceded just three in the process as they ended the campaign unbeaten.
Sadio Mane (six goals) topped the scoring charts with Pape Matar Sarr and Ismail Sarr scoring four each.
History at World Cup
- Best World Cup: Quarter-finals (2002)
- Last World Cup: Qatar 2022 (Round of 16)
- First World Cup: Korea/Japan 2002
- World Cup appearances: Four (2002, 2018, 2022, 2026)
- Current run of successive qualifications: Three
- Overall World Cup record: P12 W5 D3 L4 F16 A17
Senegal’s top scorer at the World Cup
The late Papa Bouba Diop leads the way with three goals that all came at the debut appearance in 2002 in Korea & Japan.
Besides grabbing the iconic winner against France, the much-mourned anchorman notched a vital brace in the group-stage decider against Uruguay.
Sadly, at the age of 42 in 2020, Diop tragically passed away.
Henri Camara follows closely with two strikes but their 16 goals have been shared amongst 12 different goal scorers.
Group H fixtures, stadiums and kick off times [EAT]
- June 16: vs France 10pm – New York New Jersey stadium
- June 23: vs Norway 3am – New York New Jersey stadium
- June 26: vs Iraq 10pm – Toronto stadium
The SENEGAL SQUAD FOR 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers
Mory Diaw, Yehvann Diouf, Edouard Mendy
Defenders
Ilay Camara, Krepin Diatta, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Ismail Jakobs, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moustapha Mbow, Antoine Mendy, Moussa Niakhate, Mamadou Sarr, Abdoulaye Seck
Midfielders
Lamine Camara, Pathe Ciss, Habib Diarra, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
Attackers
Assane Diao, Bamba Dieng, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mane, Ibrahim Mbaye, Cherif Ndiaye, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr
The post African Representatives at FIFA World Cup 2026 – Focus on SENEGAL – Profile, History appeared first on Kawowo Sports.
