Senegal will open their 2026 World Cup campaign against France with belief rooted in present strength rather than memories of past glory, according to midfielder Pape Gueye.
The meeting, scheduled for 16 June 2026 at MetLife Stadium, revives one of African football’s most symbolic fixtures, 24 years after Senegal stunned the reigning world champions at the 2002 World Cup.
Yet, for the current generation of the Lions of Teranga, that historic upset is no longer the foundation of their confidence.
Speaking, Pape Gueye made clear that Senegal’s approach to the match will be shaped by what the team has become, not what it once achieved.
The midfielder stressed that respect for France does not mean inferiority, pointing to the depth and quality now embedded in the Senegal squad.
“They have a lot of talent, but we have it too,” he said, underlining a belief that Senegal are equipped to face elite opposition on equal terms. Far from framing France as an untouchable force, Gueye presented the contest as a genuine sporting challenge rather than a symbolic reunion. “We’re going to fight with what we have, and I think we can compete with the best nations in the world.”
That confidence is closely tied to Senegal’s recent trajectory.
Fresh from lifting a second Africa Cup of Nations title in 2025, the team arrives at the World Cup with renewed authority and experience.
Success on the continental stage has reshaped how the players view themselves, shifting their identity from admired outsiders to established contenders.
Gueye, who scored in the AFCON final, rejected any suggestion that the match against France would be approached as a showcase occasion.
For this Senegal side, ambition is no longer limited to respectable performances.
Victory, he insisted, is the objective.
While the echoes of 2002 remain impossible to ignore, they now serve a different purpose within the squad.
Stories from senior figures such as El Hadji Diouf continue to circulate, but more as reminders of what is possible than as a blueprint to be repeated.
The historical reference provides context, not pressure.
“Our elders already played this match in 2002 (…) It’s going to be a good match,” Gueye acknowledged, before reinforcing Senegal’s intent in uncompromising terms. “We can win this kind of match and we’re going to do everything we can to win.”
As the countdown to the World Cup continues, Senegal’s message is clear: the memory of 2002 may inspire, but it is the present-day strength of the Lions of Teranga that will shape their challenge against France.
