Brest forward Pathé Mboup targets Senegal call-up, dreams of emulating Sadio Mané

Brest striker Pathé Mboup has set his sights on earning a place in the Senegal national team, revealing that he hopes to represent the Teranga Lions before the end of the year as he continues to make progress in Ligue 1.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed an encouraging start to the campaign, registering two goals and one assist for Brest, and is determined to build on his performances to attract the attention of the national team selectors.

Mboup believes regular call-ups for players competing in the French top flight provide additional motivation to work harder and improve his chances of earning a place in the Senegal squad.

Speaking in an interview with Wiwsport, the forward made it clear that representing his country remains one of his biggest ambitions, stressing his desire to wear the Senegalese jersey and contribute to the national team.

“The national team is one of my goals. When I see players from Ligue 1 being called up, it makes me even more determined to work harder to earn a place in the squad. It’s one of my goals: to make the national team this year.

“I’m Senegalese, so naturally I want to represent my country and wear the national shirt. I can’t wait to do it. I want to be a great player for the national team, yes, to be like Sadio Mané. Everyone knows him and would love to be like him,” Mboup said.

The Brest forward also made no secret of his admiration for former Liverpool and Bayern Munich attacker Sadio Mané, whom he considers a role model and an example of what a Senegalese footballer can achieve at the highest level.

Mané remains one of the most influential figures in Senegalese football, having captained the country to its maiden Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022 and established himself as one of Africa’s leading players through his performances for club and country.

For Mboup, emulating the Al-Nassr forward represents more than a personal ambition. It reflects his desire to become an important figure for Senegal and contribute to the continued success of the national team.

However, earning a call-up will require the young striker to maintain his form and demonstrate consistency with Brest as competition for places in the Senegal squad remains strong.

With two goals and an assist already to his name this season, Mboup will be hoping to turn his encouraging start into a sustained run of performances that could convince the national team technical team to hand him an opportunity.

For now, the Brest attacker remains focused on improving his game, with a Senegal debut and the prospect of following in Mané’s footsteps serving as major sources of motivation.