World Cup 2026: Pathé Ciss admits Senegal still have “things to improve” after Saudi draw

Senegal midfielder Pathé Ciss believes there is still work to be done ahead of the 2026 World Cup after the Lions were held to a goalless draw by Saudi Arabia in their final warm-up match before the tournament.

Starting in midfield, the Rayo Vallecano player was among Senegal’s most influential performers during the 0-0 encounter, but he insisted that the team must use the result as an opportunity to refine key aspects of their game before facing France in their opening match.

With the World Cup now just days away, Ciss viewed the friendly as a valuable test rather than a definitive measure of Senegal’s readiness.

The midfielder acknowledged that while there were encouraging signs, the performance also highlighted areas requiring further attention.

“There are things to improve. There are also good things to keep. It’s still a preparation match. It’s different from a World Cup match,” he explained.

The experienced midfielder also praised Saudi Arabia for providing a demanding challenge, one that helped expose details Senegal can address before the start of the competition.

“Here, we played against a very good Saudi Arabian team. They showed us that there are things to improve before the match against France, before the World Cup. I think we’re quite close to that,” the midfielder added.

Attention is already turning towards Senegal’s opening fixture against France, one of the most anticipated matches in the group stage.

However, Ciss is not placing too much emphasis on the identity of the opposition, preferring instead to focus on the fundamentals that will decide the contest.

For the Senegal international, determination and execution will matter more than reputation when the two sides meet on the pitch.

“After all, it’s France. But it’s still a football match. We’re in a difficult group, but it’s still a football match. It’s eleven against eleven. The most determined, the most convincing team will be the winner,” he stated.

His comments reflect a sense of cautious optimism within the Senegal camp. While the draw against Saudi Arabia may not have provided the perfect result, it offered a final opportunity to assess strengths and weaknesses before the World Cup campaign begins.

As preparations draw to a close, Senegal will hope the lessons learned from their final friendly can help them make a strong start when they take on France in their tournament opener.