Legendary Aliou Cisse leads Lions of Teranga into Qatar.
Qualification Summary
CAF Second Round - Group H
- 1st place (16 points)
- 6 matches (5 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses)
- 15 goals, 4 conceded (+11 goal difference)
CAF Third Round
- 1-0 loss vs. Egypt
- 1-0 win vs. Egypt (1-1 on agg.)
- 3-1 win on penalties
- Famara Diedhiou (4)
- Ismaila Sarr (3)
- Sadio Mane (3)
Meet the Manager
Aliou Cisse was the captain of the famed 2002 Senegal squad at the World Cup, who became the first African team to reach the quarterfinals. He took over as manager in 2015 and led the charge at the 2018 World Cup where Senegal became the first team to ever be eliminated by the fair play tiebreaker. He then led them to the 2019 African Cup of Nations final, but ultimately came up short. His side redeemed themselves in the 2021 edition, where they were crowned champions after defeating Egypt on penalties.
World Cup History
2022 will be just the third time that Senegal has appeared at the World Cup. In their debut campaign in 2002 they beat reigning champions France in the group stage en route to a quarterfinals appearance. They eventually lost to Turkey, but at the time it was the best showing by any African nation. Only Ghana in 2010 has equalled that run. In 2018, Senegal was unlucky to go out at the group stage on the fair play tiebreaker after drawing Japan, only being eliminated by picking up more yellow cards.
Key Players
Sadio Mane - forward, 30 - Bayern Munich (Germany) - 92 caps, 34 goals
Kalidou Koulibaly - center back, 31 - Chelsea (England) - 63 caps, 0 goal
Edouard Mendy - goalkeeper, 30 - Chelsea (England) - 25 caps, 0 goals
Ismaila Sarr - winger, 24 - Watford (England) - 47 caps, 10 goals
Idrissa Gueye - midfielder, 33 - Everton (England) - 95 caps, 7 goals
Abdou Diallo - center back, 26 - RB Leipzig (Germany) - 18 caps, 2 goals
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| Sadio Mane with the African Cup of Nations trophy |
Tactical Preview
- Aliou Cisse typically lines his team up in a 4-3-3, though he has used a 3-4-3 at times as well.
- Senegal's wingers will often sit narrow to support the lone striker while the fullbacks provide the width. Sadio Mane especially has the freedom to drift inside from the left wing, while either Fode Ballo-Toure or Ismail Jakobs overlaps from left back. One of the midfielders also will get forward to support the attack, which could be Cheikhou Kouyate.
- Cisse's three man midfield is typically industrious and defensive. While Kouyate may use his athleticism to get forward and support the attackers, the strengths of the midfield are winning the ball back aggressively and playing simple passes to more creative players. Midfielders Pape and Idrissa Gueye, Kouyate, Siss, Sarr and Mendy are all hard-working, aggressive and physical.
- Chelsea pair Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy bring plenty of high level experience at the back, and they have been aided by the recruitment of French-born Abdou Diallo who has expirience at clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain.
GK: Edouard Mendy
RB: Formose Mendy
CB: Kalidou Koulibaly
CB: Abdou Diallo
LB: Fode Ballo-Toure
CDM: Idrissa Gueye
CM: Cheikhou Kouyate
CM: Pape Gueye
RW: Ismaila Sarr
LW: Sadio Mane
FW: Boulaye Dia
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| Senegal's shape in possession |
