Senegal is the current winners of the Africa Cup of Nations and are making their second straight appearance at the World Cup.
While no African team advanced past the round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup in Russia, Senegal is favored to win its group and move to the knockout round this time around.
The Lions of Teranga have only ever made it to the World Cup twice before, but this time there is more anticipation than ever because so many of their players play in Europe’s top divisions.
Here’s how they’ll likely do at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
When do Senegal’s group games typically take place?
Taking on the Dutch, Senegal (November 21, 16:00 GMT)
Qatar takes on Senegal (November 25, 13:00 GMT)
Peru vs. Colombia (November 29, 15:00 GMT)
History of Matches Played between Senegal and the Netherlands: 0
H2H matchups between Senegal and Qatar: 0 games played.
History of Matches Played between Senegal and Ecuador: 0
Qatar Key players, injuries, strategies, and our forecast for the 2022 World Cup.
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Predictions, key players, injuries, and strategies for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in the Netherlands
The final roster for Senegal’s World Cup team consists of 26 players.
Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Alfred Gomis (Rennes), and Seny Dieng (Toulouse) are the goaltenders (QPR)
Among the best defenders in the league right now are Chelsea’s Kalidou Koulibaly, RB Leipzig’s Abdou Diallo, Real Betis’s Youssouf Sabaly, AC Milan’s Fode Ballo-Toure, Olympiacos’ Pape Abou Cisse, Monaco’s Ismail Jakobs, and Formose Mendy of Monaco (Amiens)
From left to right, we have: Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pape Gueye (Marseille), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester), Moustapha Name (Pafos), Mamadou Loum (Reading), Cheikhou Kouyate (Crystal Palace), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), and Pathe Ciss (Krepin Diatta) (Rayo Vallecano)
Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Bamba Dieng (Marseille), Nicolas Jackson (Villareal), Ilman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Boulave Dia (Salernitana), and Famara Diedhiou (Salernitana) are just a few of the forwards in EWhatean soccer today (Alanyaspor)
That are the Senegal players who had to withdraw due to injuries?
Bouna Sarr, a player for Bayern Munich, is Senegal’s greatest star absent due to injury, but teammate Sadio Mane has been selected for the World Cup roster.
Mane was hurt 20 minutes into Bayern’s last regular season game before the commencement of the tournament, and it was initially assumed that a tendon injury would prohibit him from playing in Qatar, but he has been included to the final roster.
Who are the top players for Senegal?
Gueye Idrissa
With or without him, Senegal’s ambitions would not be the same without Idrissa Gueye. AMA/Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt
A Sadio Mane
It’s not hard to choose out Senegal’s finest player because he’s also one of the best in the world, as shown by his runner-up result at the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
In 93 appearances for Senegal‘s national team, Mane has scored 34 goals. However, winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations was his greatest accomplishment. For the previous half a decade, he has been one of Liverpool’s greatest threats on the club level, and now he is the focal point of Bayern Munich’s potent assault.
Koulibaly Kalidou
Senegal’s hopes of advancing to the round of 16 are heavily reliant on the play of central defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Senegal might benefit from the Chelsea star’s expertise in the clutch due to his time spent playing at the highest level with Chelsea.
Dr. Edouard Mendy
Though he once was one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Edouard Mendy has struggled to find success in recent years with his current team.
Since Kepa Arrizabalaga has replaced Mendy as Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper, the Senegalese defender will feel he has something to show on the greatest stage possible.
Gueye Idrissa
Idrissa Gueye is a Senegalese midfielder who has been a mainstay for the team for the past decade and is about to reach the century mark in terms of international appearances.
Actually, if Senegal make it to the knockout rounds, Gueye, who recently returned to Everton following a stay at Paris Saint-Germain, might achieve the milestone appearance total; this is all the more reason for him to perform at his best for Aliou Cisse.
The starting XI for Senegal was announced beforehand.
There is no reason to believe that Senegal manager Aliou Cisse would deviate from his preferred 4-3-3 formation.
Senegal’s expected starting XI is as follows: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Diallo, Ballo-Toure; Gueye, Mendy, Sarr; Sarr, Dia, Mane.
What Senegal’s form looks like as the World Cup approaches
Despite being slated for 2021, Senegal’s win at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations means that they have had a very successful calendar year.
Their World Cup play-off victory against Egypt was a great boost, and they’ve gone on to win all but one of their AFCON qualifying matches since then.
The past five Senegalese results (all competitions)
Goals scored by Senegal and Eswatini (10-9 pens)
Zimbabwe 5-2 Senegal
Score: Mozambique and Senegal tied at 1 apiece (2-4 pens)
Senegal defeats Bolivia with a score of 2-0.
Iran and Senegal tied at 1 apiece.
Do you think Senegal will go past the group stage at the World Cup?
Senegal is full of hope going into the World Cup for a variety of reasons.
They have some good players and a manager who understands how to set them up, and they’ve been given a reasonably easy draw, having to win by less points than both Qatar and Ecuador.
They should be able to pull it off, but they will likely finish behind the Netherlands and get England in the following round. They would have a fighting chance against Gareth Southgate’s squad, but it would be too much to expect them to win.
The Sweet 16 is expected.
