Senegal national team coach Patrick Vieira announced the Lions of Teranga squad for the upcoming back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches against Sudan in November.
The Arsenal legend will be leading Senegal for the matchday three and four qualifiers on November 12th and November 16th.
While naming the squad at the King Fahd Palace, Vieira announced new faces in the squad. They include Pathe Mboup, Clayton Diandy, and Paul Mendy.
Krepin Diatta and Dion Lopy, who missed the first two matchdays of the qualifiers, are among the players returning to the squad.
However, Vieira left out Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, Assane Diao, Abdallah Sima, and Ismaila Sarr, who are absent owing to medical reasons, alongside Sadio Mane and Idrissa Gana Gueye.
While announcing the squad, Vieira addressed the absence of Mane, who is enjoying a strong campaign with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, and Idrissa Gueye of Al-Diriyah.
“Idrissa is a national team player. The fact that he’s not here has nothing to do with Jakobs and Mendy (Édouard), who have decided to end their international careers,” Vieira told reporters, as quoted by Wiw Sports.
“As the coach, I have choices to make, but that doesn’t call into question Idrissa’s future selection. I spoke to Sadio on the phone and he received the call-up. But he wanted to stay home because he’s expecting a baby.”
‘I accepted with bitterness’
On the recent retirement of Ismail Jakobs, Vieira said: “I spoke with him when he received the call-up. But he called me a few days later to tell me he was going to end his international career.
“I accepted it with a bit of bitterness, because I think he’s at the peak of his career. It’s always a shame when a player of that age, who also plays for a big club, ends his international career.
“But it’s his choice. I have to accept it. But, personally, it’s difficult to understand. I don’t have any other way to do otherwise.”
Addressing the new players in the squad, Vieira said: “They were selected because they did what was necessary. They will have the opportunity to showcase their talent.
“The chance has been close, now it’s up to them to seize it. Now, it’s certain that if they want to come back, they will have to perform (…) but we must not forget that this youth needs experienced players and leaders.
“And when we look at this list, we see that it contains experienced players, who will guide the youngsters in the right direction.”
Senegal started their campaign to feature at the 2027 AFCON in East Africa with a 1-1 draw against Madagascar before recovering to edge out Ethiopia 1-0.
Senegal squad to face Sudan
Goalkeepers: Yehvann Diouf (OGC Nice), Mamour Ndiaye (AS Saint-Etienne), Mory Diaw (Al-Shabab).
Defenders: Mamadou Sarr (Real Sociedad), Moussa Niakhaté (OL), Sadibou Sane (AS Monaco), Nobel Mendy (Hull City), Malang Sarr (NEOM), El Hadji Malick Diouf (Brentford), Lamine Sy (AJ Auxerre), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Krepin Diatta (Watford).
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (AS Monaco), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Pape Matar Sarr (Juventus), Dion Lopy (Al-Ittihad). Pope Demba Diop (Strasbourg).
Forwards: Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa), Ibrahim Mbaye (Aston Villa), Boulaye Dia (Stade Rennais), Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City), Pathé Mboup (Stade Brestois), Clayton Diandy (Al-Diriyah), Paul Mendy (Cagliari), Issa Soumaré (Stade Rennais).
