France head coach Didier Dechamps has been monitoring their 2026 World Cup group opponent, Senegal at the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, being held in Morocco.
The European giants are paired in Group I at the global showpiece, alongside Senegal, Norway and one other teams from the playoff slated for March 2026.
As the biggest soccer mundial approaches, France, who last won the tournament in 2018 appears to have begun preparation, with coach Dechamps monitoring the Senegal national team at the continental showpiece in the North African country.
“I follow the Africa Cup of Nations even if it is during the end-of-year holidays, and I watch the Senegalese national team, our opponent in the World Cup” he told Saudi Al-Sharq network.
Quizzed about the candidates to annex the AFCON title, Dechamps said, “The candidates to win the Africa Cup of Nations are the same teams. It’s the same as the World Cup. Sometimes there might be some surprises, but the best African teams are there.”
Senegal will take on the Squirrels of Benin at the Grand Stade de Tanger in their final group game, with both teams seeking for victory to boost their chances of securing a place in the round 16.
While Senegal sit top of Group D with four points, the Squirrels find themselves in the third position with points, one points adrift of the log leaders.
This means qualification to the knockout stage will be determined after the final group matches this evening.
