The new coach of Senegal’s national team, Patrick Vieira, Friday unveiled a list of 29 players for the next Lions games, including the first call-ups of a defender and a midfielder.
The list made up of 29 players, is marked by the inclusion of Malang Sarr, defender of NEOM, a club playing in Saudi Arabia, Sadibou Sane, defender of AS Monaco, in France, and Arouna Sangante, defender of Seville FC, in Spain.
These three players are thus experiencing their first call-ups with the Lions, according to the list communicated by Vieira.
Appointed at the head of the Senegalese national squad to succeed Pape Thiaw, the French technician included several veterans of the group, among them captain Kalidou Koulibaly, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, Lamine Camara and Ismaila Sarr.
The coach also recalled Abdallah Sima, striker from RC Lens, in France, as well as Pape Moussa Fall, striker from FC Metz, and Arona Sangante.
The group includes several players playing in the main leagues in Europe.
Also recalled are Pape Alassane Gueyewho plays club football for Villarreal, in Spain.
In attack, Nicolas Jackson and Ibrahim Mbaye play at Aston Villa, in England, Iliman Ndiaye at Manchester City, Ismaila Sarr at Crystal Palace, while Boulaye Dia and Issa Soumare are at Rennes.
Mamadou Diakhon plays at Club Bruges, in Belgium, and Assane Diao at Como, in Italy.
Patrick Vieira retained two experienced goalkeepers, Yehvann Diouf and Mory Diaw, integrating Mamour Ndiaye and Ngagne Demba Thiam into the group.
Senegal will be deprived of Sadio Mane for the start of the next campaign.
According to Vieira, the Al-Nasr striker suffers from a physical problem but should be fit to return in the next international break.
The Lions will begin their qualifiying campaign for the 2027 AfCON with a trip to Mozambique on Friday, September 25, to face the Mambas at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto in Maputo
They will then travel to Ethiopia to play the Walya on Tuesday September 29 at the Bahir Dar Stadium in the Amhara region.
Patrick Vieira’s charges will end this international break with a friendly against the Comoros on Sunday October 4 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, France.
SS/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA