Overview
- The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed Patrick Vieira as the national team coach and scheduled his formal presentation for Friday, Sept. 18, when he will name his first squad.
- Vieira, born in Dakar, posted on social media that he feels “honoured and proud” to take charge and will begin his first role in international management with the Lions of Teranga.
- He inherits immediate competitive duties with qualifying matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia later this month plus a home fixture versus Comoros during the international window.
- Off the field, Senegal is pursuing an appeal of the decision that stripped the team of its January AFCON title and faces a private CAS hearing in early October that could affect the federation's stability.
- Vieira replaces Pape Thiaw after Senegal's World Cup exit and must quickly rebuild a bruised squad that includes senior players such as Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr, and Iliman Ndiaye.