Patrick Vieira outlines Senegal’s preparations after first training session

Senegal have begun preparations in Maputo for their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Mozambique, with new head coach Patrick Vieira giving an update on the squad after his first session in charge.

The Lions of Teranga arrived at their base on Monday, but the training group was not yet complete. Several players had featured for their clubs on Saturday or Sunday, while others were still travelling.

Vieira said the initial focus had therefore been on recovery rather than tactical work.

“The difficulty was getting all the players together. Some played on Saturday, others on Sunday, which meant that some travelled on Sunday and others on Monday. They are arriving in small groups,” Vieira told the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).

“With the first group, the priority is recovery. That is why recovery work was carried out at the hotel. The squad will be complete on Tuesday evening. For now, the priority will be recovery and we will start working on the pitch from Tuesday.”

Vieira conducted his first training session as Senegal manager with only some of the squad available. The former France international was appointed after the 2026 World Cup, replacing Pape Thiaw.

He will lead Senegal through their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, beginning with the match against Mozambique.