Senegal’s national team coach, Aliou Cisse, has unveiled the official lineup for the Teranga Lions as they aim to defend their title in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in the Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11.
The squad is spearheaded by Sadio Mane, the striker from Saudi club Al-Nassr.
Cisse has opted for several players from the Saudi league, including Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Al-Hilal defender Kalidou Koulibaly, and Al-Shabab striker Habib Diallo.
This decision marks a departure from previous practices, where players from the Gulf League were often excluded due to perceived lower competitiveness compared to European leagues.
Speaking at a press conference, Cisse stated, “We have shown that we can win with players in major European tournaments.
Now we also need to demonstrate our ability to win with players playing in Saudi Arabia.”
Responding to inquiries about the perceived curse on reigning champions, with Egypt being the last team to secure three consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010, Cisse remarked, “We have only one star.
We want to go and win, to continue winning,” signaling the team’s ambition to secure their first title since their historic victory in 2021 in Cameroon.
The announced squad includes:
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli Saudi), Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough, England), and Mori Diaw (Clermont Foot, France).
Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal Saudi), Abdou Diallo (Al-Arabi Qatar), Abdallah Seck, Abdallah Niakhate (Troyes, France), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest, England), Fode Ballo Toure (Fulham, England), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis, Spain), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco), and Formose Mendy (Lorient, France).
Midfielders: Nampalys Mendy (Lens, France), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, England), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Pape Alassane Gueye (Marseille, France), Krépin Diatta (Monaco), Bate Ciss (Rayo Vallecano, Spain), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest, England), and Lamine Kamara (Metz, France).
Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr Saudi), Habib Diallo (Al-Shabab Saudi), Eliman Ndiaye and Ismaela Sarr (Marseille, France), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea, England), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana, Italy), and Abdallah Sima (Rangers, Scotland).
