Patrick Vieira to unveil first Senegal squad on Friday

Patrick Vieira will officially begin his tenure as Senegal coach on Friday when he is presented in Dakar and announces his first squad.

The Senegalese Football Federation will introduce Vieira to the media on 18 September, with the former France international expected to reveal his initial selections during his first press conference.

The announcement will provide the first indication of the direction Vieira intends to take with the Lions after being appointed to lead the national team.

His first squad is expected to attract significant attention as it will show which players he considers central to his plans and whether there will be new faces in the team.

Vieira will also have little time to settle into his new role, with three matches scheduled across September and October. Two of those fixtures will form part of Senegal’s qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

The first selection will therefore offer an early glimpse of Vieira’s plans for the team. It could indicate how he views Senegal’s established leaders, which players may receive new opportunities and who could take on greater responsibility under the new coach.

The appointment of Vieira marks the start of a new period for the Lions, with his first squad likely to provide an early picture of how he intends to shape the side.

Alongside Vieira, changes are also expected within the team’s wider structure.

Kader Mangane is scheduled to take up the role of team manager, while Serigne Saliou Dia or Issa Aidara are expected to form part of the core of the technical staff.

Vieira will also be joined by Comorian coach Hachim Ali Mbae, who is set to work as an assistant responsible for video analysis.

Mbae is already familiar with Vieira’s methods, having previously worked with him at Nice, Strasbourg and Genoa.

The first squad announcement will be one of Vieira’s earliest major decisions since taking charge of Senegal. It will show the players he has chosen to begin his project with and provide an initial indication of how he plans to approach the challenges ahead.

With competitive fixtures already on the calendar, Vieira will need to move quickly as he begins preparing the Lions for their upcoming matches.

Friday’s press conference will therefore represent more than just Vieira’s official presentation. His first list will give Senegal supporters their first opportunity to see the coach’s choices and the early shape of his plans for the national team.