Cheikh Niasse has been recalled to the Senegal national team by head coach Pape Thiaw for the upcoming international friendlies against Ireland and England.
The 25-year-old midfielder, who plays for Hellas Verona in Italy’s Serie A, was not included in the initial squad announcement but has since been brought in as a reinforcement.
His club confirmed the call-up on Wednesday morning, signalling his return to international contention after missing out on previous fixtures due to injury.
The Senegalese Football Federation has not yet provided an official explanation for the change in squad selection or whether the recall is in response to an injury or withdrawal among the originally selected midfielders.
However, Niasse’s inclusion presents a renewed opportunity for the former Lille player to establish himself in the national setup.
Niasse was first called up to the senior squad in March but was forced to withdraw before featuring, having sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Togo.
This latest call-up offers him a second chance to make his debut under Thiaw, whose squad is preparing for a pair of high-profile friendlies as part of their ongoing international programme.
Senegal will face the Republic of Ireland on 6 June before travelling to take on England at Wembley on 10 June. Both fixtures are expected to provide stiff challenges and valuable experience for players hoping to cement their places ahead of future competitive matches.
Niasse’s form at club level has steadily improved since joining Verona, where he has become a key part of the midfield under coach Marco Baroni.
His performances in Serie A have been marked by tactical discipline, strong positional awareness and an ability to break up opposition play — attributes that could serve Senegal well as they seek to refine their system against European opposition.
Though competition for places in the Senegalese midfield remains fierce, Niasse will be eager to impress Thiaw and stake his claim for future selections.
The friendly matches are expected to offer a platform for fringe and emerging players to prove themselves, especially with the national team continuing to evolve following its participation in recent Africa Cup of Nations campaigns and World Cup qualifiers.
The national team is currently assembling in camp to begin preparations, with tactical sessions and fitness assessments underway. While the federation has yet to publish an updated squad list reflecting Niasse’s inclusion, his addition underscores the coaching staff’s willingness to make late adjustments to strengthen the team.
With fixtures against two well-regarded European teams looming, Senegal’s preparations are entering a critical phase. Niasse, now injury-free and regaining rhythm in Italy, will hope to seize the moment and finally make his debut in the national colours — a moment that was postponed but now appears well within reach.
Cheikh convocato dal Senegal 🇸🇳#Niasse si aggiunge alla lista dei gialloblù impegnati con le rispettive Nazionali 🟨🟦#HVFC pic.twitter.com/y3k3d6iV3M
— Hellas Verona FC (@HellasVeronaFC) June 4, 2025
