Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye has warned France that the reigning African champions will be ready for their World Cup encounter in 2026.
The Villarreal player, who scored the winning goal in Senegal’s 2025 AFCON final victory over Morocco, spoke to Téléfoot ahead of the highly anticipated Group I clash, which also features Norway.
Gueye expressed confidence in his side’s ability to compete with the world’s elite.
“It’s going to be a good match, they have a lot of talent, but we also have it. We’re going to fight with our weapons, I think we can compete with the biggest nations in the world.
We can win this kind of match and I hope we will. The message got through,” he said.
Senegal will face France for the first time at a World Cup, and the game is expected to draw global attention, given the pedigree of both squads.
Gueye’s comments underline the ambition and belief within the Senegalese camp, which has been boosted by their recent continental success.
The midfielder, a former Marseille player, is a key figure in Senegal’s engine room and will be central to the team’s strategy against European powerhouses.
Analysts expect the match to be tightly contested, with both sides boasting technical quality, tactical discipline, and experienced leaders.
As the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico approaches, Senegal’s warning adds to the anticipation surrounding the group stages.
With Gueye and other key players carrying the momentum from their AFCON triumph, the team will aim to assert itself on the global stage.
