Patrick Vieira faces key selection decisions as Senegal take on Comoros

Patrick Vieira will use Senegal’s friendly against Comoros on Sunday to assess more players and continue shaping his squad after two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

The match at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille will be Senegal’s third and final fixture of the September international break, following their qualifying victories over Mozambique and Ethiopia.

Vieira’s team selection will be closely watched, particularly because Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr are available again after missing the first two matches through suspension.

The pair were suspended by CAF and could not feature in either of Senegal’s opening AFCON qualifiers. Their return against Comoros will give Vieira his first chance to use them since the start of the training camp.

Their involvement could give Senegal additional attacking options and allow the coach to assess how they can fit into a forward line built around Nicolas Jackson.

Vieira has 29 players in his squad for the international break, although several have yet to make an appearance under the new coach.

Kalidou Koulibaly is among those yet to play, while Mory Diaw, Ngagne Demba Thiam, Mamour Ndiaye, Rassoul Ndiaye, Arona Sanganté, Mamadou Sarr, Nobel Mendy and Mamadou Diakhon are also waiting for their opportunities.

The Comoros match therefore gives Vieira another chance to assess the players who have not featured so far and make further decisions about his squad.

The coach has already experimented with different tactical systems during his first two matches.

Senegal used a 4-3-3 formation against Mozambique before Vieira switched to a three-man defence for the game against Ethiopia. The friendly in Marseille could allow him to continue testing different approaches while also giving playing time to players who have not been used regularly.

However, Senegal will be without Moussa Niakhaté. The defender was injured and was released by Vieira after undergoing tests in Marseille, ruling him out of the match against Comoros.

The focus in Marseille will therefore be on Vieira’s decisions as much as the result.

The friendly provides the coach with an opportunity to see more of his squad in action, bring Ndiaye and Sarr back into the team and continue assessing the best tactical structure for Senegal.

After two competitive matches during the international break, the final game against Comoros will give Vieira another opportunity to refine his plans and gradually shape his Senegal side.