Senegal v Comoros: Vieira given chance to assess wider squad in Marseille friendly

Senegal face Comoros in a friendly at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome on Sunday, 4 October, with Patrick Vieira able to continue testing his squad after an unbeaten start as national-team manager.

Kick-off is scheduled for 15:00 French time, 13:00 in Senegal and 16:00 in Comoros. The match will be shown live in Senegal on RTS 1.

The fixture carries no competitive points, allowing Vieira to experiment after Senegal’s opening two official matches. However, the new Lions manager remains under scrutiny over the quality and identity of the football his side produces.

Senegal began their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Mozambique before recording a narrow 1-0 victory against Ethiopia. While those results were considered respectable for Vieira’s first two games, the performances prompted reservations in Senegal, particularly after a difficult second half in Bahir Dar.

The friendly could bring a significantly different Senegal side, with Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr available for the first time since Vieira took charge. Both attackers were ineligible for the matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia after being suspended by the CAF following incidents during the final of the CAN 2025.

Vieira also has further options to examine. Kalidou Koulibaly did not play a minute in either of the opening fixtures, while Mamadou Sarr, Nobel Mendy, Rassoul Ndiaye and Mamadou Diakhon were among the other players in the squad who were not used.

There is one confirmed absence. Moussa Niakhate, who started and captained Senegal against both Mozambique and Ethiopia, will miss the match after suffering an injury. The OL defender underwent an MRI scan in Marseille and was released by Vieira to return to his club for treatment.

Vieira has already switched between a back four and a system featuring three central defenders during his first matches in charge. The meeting with Comoros will give him another opportunity to assess those approaches and increase his rotation before the next international break.

The priority will be to establish a clearer identity for Senegal, who remain unbeaten since Vieira’s appointment.

Comoros arrive with a squad being reshaped by manager Hubert Velud. The Coelacantes opened their CAN 2027 qualifying campaign with a 3-1 defeat by Cameroon, but responded by beating Namibia 1-0.

The match in Marseille therefore gives both teams a chance to continue work on their squads, although Senegal will be expected to build on their early results and deliver a more convincing performance.