Senegal’s national football team will travel directly from Dakar to Dublin on Sunday, 1 June, as preparations shift to the Irish capital ahead of two high-profile international friendlies scheduled for next week.
Originally, the Lions had been set to train in Dakar before their fixtures against Ireland and England. However, a late change in the training programme has seen the entire preparation camp moved to Dublin.
The regrouping of the full squad is now expected to begin on Monday, 2 June, giving head coach Pape Thiaw a narrow four-day window to finalise tactics and fitness levels before their first match.
Senegal will face the Republic of Ireland on Thursday, 6 June, in what will be the team’s first encounter of the month. Four days later, they will take on England at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in what promises to be an even sterner test of the squad’s readiness and cohesion.
The early arrival in Dublin will allow the technical and administrative staff, already based in Dakar, to link up with players travelling in from various clubs around the world.
Those already in Senegal will make the journey as part of the main delegation, while others will meet the team in Dublin as they return from club duties abroad.
Coach Thiaw is expected to use the four-day preparation period in Ireland to evaluate his tactical options, particularly in light of recent squad changes and injury-related absences.
With the training camp now being held closer to the location of their first match, the Lions will have the benefit of acclimatising to local conditions and minimising travel fatigue ahead of their international tests.
The relocation of the training base also ensures that the team avoids any logistical disruptions that might have occurred due to time constraints between matches and long-haul flights.
By settling in Dublin early, the squad can focus entirely on match preparation, strategy, and cohesion.
This change in planning comes at a crucial time for Senegal, as the national team continues to reshape its identity under Thiaw’s leadership.
With key players like Sadio Mané unavailable for these friendlies, opportunities arise for other members of the squad to step into more prominent roles.
Senegal’s fixture against Ireland will be the first meeting between the two nations in recent history, offering an opportunity for the Lions to test their tactical flexibility against a European side known for physicality and defensive discipline.
The England match that follows will undoubtedly provide an even greater challenge, as Thiaw’s men face a side ranked among the world’s top teams.
While the friendlies themselves are not competitive fixtures, they are seen as vital preparation for upcoming continental and international tournaments.
As such, the Senegalese camp in Dublin will be closely monitored by fans and analysts alike, with significant interest in how the squad adapts to the new training environment and how the coaching staff manages the short preparation time.
With the countdown underway, the Lions are now fully focused on their task: representing Senegal with pride and precision on European soil.
