Senegal’s Lions Face Intense May Schedule Ahead of AFCON Qualifiers
Senegal’s national football team, the Lions of Teranga, are preparing for a hectic international schedule this May, with two high-profile friendlies lined up in quick succession. The matches serve as crucial preparations for the upcoming 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, which are expected to be played in rapid succession within short time frames.
The first test for Alain Giresse’s squad will come on May 21 when they travel to Ouagadougou to take on Burkina Faso’s Stallions. This match, recently confirmed by the president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF), Augustin Senghor, had initially faced uncertainty due to administrative tensions. According to reliable sources, the delay stemmed from internal disagreements within the Burkinabé Football Federation and the Ministry of Sports regarding the distribution of match revenues. However, the dispute has now been resolved, and the match is officially on.
Just four days later, on May 25, Senegal will face Kosovo in Paris. This friendly has stirred its own controversy back home—not due to financial issues, but because of the unfamiliarity with the opponent. Kosovo, a nation still seeking broader football recognition, was described by critics, including former Senegal internationals like Khalilou Fadiga and El Hadji Diouf, as an unorthodox and “odd” choice of opponent. “Playing Kosovo is funny,” said Diouf, expressing skepticism over the match’s competitive value.
Nevertheless, both head coach Alain Giresse and FSF president Senghor have defended the fixture. For them, facing Kosovo presents an opportunity to test the team against an unpredictable side, offering a different kind of preparation. “Kosovo is a good answer for the Lions,” they emphasized, underlining the importance of facing varied styles ahead of competitive AFCON qualifiers.
Adding to the already crowded schedule, there had been discussions about a third friendly against Colombia on May 31. However, the FSF opted to send a mixed team of Olympic and local players instead. The decision appears to be part of a strategy to preserve the senior team’s energy and reduce injury risk after a demanding international window.
This tightly packed calendar reflects a shift in Senegal’s approach, aiming to simulate the intensity of AFCON qualification fixtures, which are often played under pressure and in quick succession. The upcoming matches will also give coach Giresse a valuable opportunity to assess squad depth, experiment with formations, and fine-tune tactics before the qualifiers begin.
For Senegal’s supporters, the dual fixtures—against a familiar African rival and a lesser-known European newcomer—offer contrasting but essential learning opportunities. Whether these preparatory matches will pay off in the long run remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Lions are sharpening their claws for what lies ahead.
