World Cup 2026: Senegal coach Pape Thiaw eases injury concerns after USA friendly

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has offered reassurance over his squad’s fitness following their 3-2 defeat to the United States in an international friendly on May 31 in Charlotte.

Despite the loss, the Lions of Teranga emerged from the match with no major injury concerns, providing a boost to their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The only worry for the technical team involved young midfielder Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, who made his debut for Senegal during the encounter.

The 18-year-old experienced some discomfort late in the game, but Thiaw confirmed that the issue is not serious and is being managed by the medical staff.

“All the players who took part in the match came through it well, apart from Bara who suffered from cramps. Nothing serious; the medical staff will look after him,” Thiaw said.

The update will come as a relief to Senegal supporters, especially with the squad entering the final phase of preparations ahead of the global tournament.

Thiaw emphasised that aside from the minor concern involving Ndiaye, the rest of the squad are in good condition and fully available for upcoming fixtures.

Senegal are set to continue their build-up with another international friendly before heading to the World Cup, where they will compete against the United States, Canada and Mexico in the co-hosted tournament.

The Lions of Teranga will face Saudi Arabia on June 10 in their next warm-up match, which will serve as a final test ahead of the global showpiece.

With fitness concerns minimal and confidence still intact, Senegal will look to fine-tune their tactics and build momentum as they prepare for another demanding World Cup campaign.