Sadio Mane has been included in Senegal’s 28-man squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Senegal will be playing in the FIFA World Cup for the 4th time in their history.
The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich player was named in Senegal’s squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he missed the tournament with a knee injury.
Mane was among the Senegal players who remained on the pitch during January’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final when Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
The 34-year-old encouraged his team-mates who had walked off in protest to return and finish the game, which Senegal won thanks to a Pape Gueye goal in extra-time.
However, a Confederation of African Football (Caf) appeals board later declared Morocco winners of the tournament following Senegal’s controversial walk-off.
Mane will be joined in attack at the World Cup by Bayern Munich forward Nicolas Jackson, Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye and Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw has also selected Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, Sunderland’s Habib Diarra and Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr.
Thiaw will have to trim his squad to the Fifa-mandated 26 players ahead of the final deadline on 2 June.
Senegal open their World Cup campaign in New Jersey against France on 16 June, followed by Norway on 22 June and Iraq on 26 June.
The expanded 48-team competition in the US, Canada and Mexico runs from 11 June to 19 July.
Senegal World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli), Yehvann Diouf (Nice), Mory Diaw (Le Havre).
Defenders: Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea), El-Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray).
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Bara Ndiaye (Bayern Munich).
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the previous 32-team format
These 48 qualified nations have been divided into 12 groups of four teams. The expanded tournament will feature a total of 104 matches played across host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
