Aliou Cissé, the head coach of Senegal’s national football team, has revealed a squad of 26 players for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mauritania. The Teranga Lions, who currently lead their group, will host Sébastien Desabre’s Leopards at Diamniadio on June 6 before traveling to face the Mourabitounes on June 9.
The squad announcement highlights a few notable changes. Cheikhou Kouyaté has been omitted due to a mixed season with Nottingham Forest, while Abdallah Sima makes his return after missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 in Ivory Coast.
Additionally, Red Star Belgrade striker Cherif Ndiaye receives his first call-up to the national team.
Full Squad List
Goalkeepers:
- Edouard Mendy
- Seny Dieng
- Mory Diaw
Defenders:
- Kalidou Koulibaly
- Abdou Diallo
- Moussa Niakhaté
- Aboulaye Seck
- Mikayil Faye
- Formose Mendy
- Arouna Sangante
- Seydou Sano
Midfielders:
- Idrissa Gana Gueye
- Dion Lopy
- Lamine Camara
- Pathé Ciss
- Pape Matar Sarr
- Habib Diarra
- Pape Gueye
- Nampalys Mendy
Forwards:
- Sadio Mané
- Habib Diallo
- Iliman Ndiaye
- Ismaila Sarr
- Nicolas Jackson
- Abdallah Sima
- Cherif Ndiaye
Cherif Ndiaye’s First Call-Up
Cherif Ndiaye, who has had a standout season in Serbia with 20 goals and 5 assists in 47 matches across all competitions, has been recognized for his performance with a call-up to the national team.
Cissé emphasized the importance of Ndiaye’s inclusion in the squad, highlighting his consistent performance and goal-scoring ability.
“Cherif is here because he had a very good season,” Cissé stated during the press conference. “He’s been pretty consistent. He’s a boy who scored around twenty goals and who played in the Champions League.
We have been following him for a long time, but there was not yet the possibility of bringing him in. With the mishaps and injuries, it’s time to bring him in. He’s a boy who has a lot of qualities, with quite an interesting touch.”
Cissé further elaborated on Ndiaye’s potential impact on the team, expressing that Senegal needs players capable of scoring goals.
“It’s okay to bring him in. The Senegal team needs this kind of player, capable of scoring goals, because we don’t score enough goals.
Let him get his bearings and feel at home. He has qualities and he must show them in training. He must be ready to help the team when his time comes.
It wasn’t to please him that I brought him here. Throughout the season, he was one of the best Senegalese attackers.”
As Senegal prepares for their crucial qualifiers, fans and analysts alike will be keenly watching how these squad changes, particularly the inclusion of Ndiaye, will influence the team’s performance on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
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