Patrick Vieira left frustrated as Senegal held by Mozambique in first match

Patrick Vieira admitted to feeling disappointed after Senegal were held to a 1-1 draw by Mozambique in Maputo in the opening round of the CAN 2027 qualifiers.

The match was Vieira’s first in charge of Senegal, but his side were unable to turn a promising start into victory. Nicolas Jackson put the Lions ahead in the 32nd minute after Senegal had made the stronger opening.

However, Mozambique struck back in first-half stoppage time, with the equaliser arriving in the 45th minute plus two. Senegal were unable to find a response after the break and had to settle for a point.

Vieira said after the match that his players had not made enough of their opportunities during the first half. Senegal created chances to extend their advantage, but were repeatedly denied, with Ernan producing an especially strong performance.

Ernan prevented Pape Matar Sarr from making it 2-0 in the 39th minute, one of several moments that left Senegal regretting their failure to establish a more decisive lead before the interval.

The Lions also lost some of their momentum during the second half, allowing Mozambique to remain in contention. Despite the result, Vieira identified aspects of Senegal’s performance that pleased him, particularly the team’s overall attitude.

The former Strasbourg coach wants to develop a side in his own image: aggressive and committed to attacking football. The next task will be to address the weaknesses exposed in Maputo when Senegal face Ethiopia.

“There are regrets but…” Vieira’s assessment reflected the mixed emotions surrounding his first match in charge. The draw represented a frustrating beginning, although he also saw signs that the team could develop in the direction he wants.

Senegal will play Ethiopia on 29 September in the second round of the qualifying campaign. They will then meet Comoros in a friendly on 4 October in Marseille.

The result leaves the Lions third in Group J, two points behind Sudan, who are the surprise leaders. Senegal will therefore be looking for an improved performance against Ethiopia as they attempt to make up ground in the group.

For Vieira, the immediate priority is to turn the positive elements of his debut into a more complete display. Senegal showed enough in the opening stages to take the lead, but their lack of efficiency and second-half drop-off prevented them from claiming all three points.