It’s hard to believe, but this will be only Senegal’s second ever World Cup participation. Even more so, it nearly didn’t happen. Senegal qualified after being granted the chance to replay a match against South Africa (the original had been under heavy suspicion of fraud by FIFA and the referee who watched over the initial game received a heavy ban).
And unlike many of their African counterparts, the Senegalese team have plenty of star power on display. Mane, Gueye or Koulibaly will be familiar to most football fans and the team’s coach, Aliou Cisse, is looking to bring their international experience in the favor of Senegal in Russia.
– Star players: Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly
– FootballCoin stars:
Sadio Mane (Liverpool) – 13,649.16 seasonal points (Pro), 5,473.30 points (Easy)
Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli) – 16,302.02 seasonal points (Pro), 6,290.20 points (Easy)
– Coach: Aliou Cisse
– Group: H
– Group fixtures:
Tue June 19: Poland – Senegal, Moscow (Spartak), 1pm
Sun June 24: Japan – Senegal, Ekaterinburg, 4pm
Thu June 28: Senegal – Colombia, Samara 3pm
– Prediction : They’re not group favorites, but Senegal has proven to have the quality needed to go about against the strongest teams. If Senegal find themselves in good form, they could win against any of their three opponents. Expect Senegal to put on a strong challenge to qualify to the knockout rounds and even progress to the Quarter Final if they meet either Belgium or England.
– Squad:
Goalkeepers: Abdoulaye Diallo (Rennes, France), Alfred Gomis (SPAL, Italy), Khadim Ndiaye (Horoya, Guinea);
Defenders: Lamine Gassama (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Saliou Ciss (Valenciennes, France), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli, Italy), Kara Mbodii (Anderlecht, Belgium), Youssouf Sabaly (Bordeaux, France), Salif Sane (Hannover, Germany), Moussa Wague (Eupen, Belgium);
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton, England), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham United, England), Alfred Ndiaye (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Badou Ndiaye (Stoke City, England), Cheikh Ndoye (Birmingham City, England), Ismaila Sarr (Rennes, France);
Forwards: Keita Balde (Monaco, France), Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City, England), Moussa Konate (Amiens, France), Sadio Mane (Liverpool, England), Mbaye Niang (Torino, Italy), Diafra Sakho (Rennes, France), Moussa Sow (Bursaspor, Turkey)
– World Cup history: 2002, 2018
