Overview
- Patrick Vieira, formally unveiled as Senegal head coach, named his first squad on Friday and confirmed Sadio Mané is absent because of a physical problem rather than international retirement.
- Long-serving goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has retired from international duty, leaving Nice’s Yehvann Diouf and other new options to contest the starting role.
- Vieira recalled Pape Gueye and handed a first national-team call-up to Malang Sarr as he blends retained senior players with fresh faces.
- The squad was selected for two qualifying away fixtures in Mozambique and Ethiopia plus a friendly in Marseille after the home opener was moved because Dakar is hosting Youth Olympic Games preparations.
- Vieira framed the moves as the start of a rebuild that preserves the team’s recent identity while testing fitness and selection ahead of competitive qualifiers and growing national expectations following AFCON 2025 and the 2026 World Cup.