Koulibaly and Mané head up Senegal's effort to retain AFCON crown
Kalidou Koulibaly of Senegal speaks to the media in the post match press conference after their victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium Credit: Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Senegal boss Aliou Cissé has named a 27-man squad as the Lions of Teranga look to retain the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire.
The defending champions defeated Egypt on penalties following a scoreless draw in Yaoundé in February of 2021 to lift their first-ever AFCON crown.
Only three teams have won consecutive titles, with Egypt doing so twice, as recently as 2010. The Senegalese are favourites for the tournament but they will have multiple powerhouse nations breathing down their necks over the next month.
Former Chelsea and Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly, now of Saudi side Al-Hilal, captains the squad having lifted the trophy as skipper two years ago.
The squad is headlined by national hero and reigning player of the tournament Sadio Mané, the country’s all-time top scorer with 39 international goals in a century of caps.
He is featuring at his fifth tournament and will be hoping to add to the eight goals he has scored at previous tournaments.
In addition to being Senegal’s top scorer at the last AFCON, Sadio scored the winning penalty in the shootout against Egypt.
Cissé’s men were one of only three teams to go unbeaten in qualifying, however conceding an equaliser in the final seconds of their campaign at home to basement boys Rwanda meant they only kept one clean sheet all campaign.
The Senegalese attack was firing on all cylinders with only Mali and the free scoring Super Eagles netting more goals.
Six Premier League players will be out of action for their clubs over the next month, most notably Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, Idrissa Gueye of Everton, Spurs’ Pape Matar Sarr and Moussa Niakhaté of Nottingham Forest.
Centre backs Koulibaly and Abdou Diallo have a wealth of Champions League experience between them and are both currently plying their trade in the Middle East.
Koulibaly’s Al Hilal have kept four clean sheets on the bounce and sit seven points clear atop of the Saudi Pro League. He is set to captain his country at a third consecutive tournament.
One of two Forest men in the side, Niakhaté only made his international debut last March at the ripe age of 26 but provides more than adequate cover with ten Premier League starts to his name this season.
Senegal squad:
Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia), Mory Diaw (Clermont, France), Seny Dieng (Middlesbrough, England).
Defenders: Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis, Spain), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Moussa Niakhaté (Nottingham Forest, England), Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi, Qatar), Formose Mendy (Lorient, France), Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Troyes, France), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Fodé Ballo-Touré (Fulham, England), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco, France).
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Metz, France), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, England), Krépin Diatta (Monaco, France), Cheikhou Kouyaté (Nottingham Forest, England), Pape Gueye (Marseille, France), Nampalys Mendy (Lens, France), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano, Spain) Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, England).
Forwards: Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea, England), Abdallah Sima (Rangers, Scotland), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana, Italy), Sadio Mané (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Habib Diallo (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaïla Sarr (both Marseille, France).
