Senegal unveil star-studded squad set to face Harambee Stars

Senegal men's senior national football team head coach Pape Thiaw has named a star-studded squad that will come up against Kenya’s Harambee Stars in one of two friendlies for the Teranga Lions this month.

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Senegal, who are readying for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco, are scheduled to play Brazil and Kenya in two international friendlies on Saturday, 15 and Tuesday, 18 November at Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey.

Harambee Stars set to play former AFCON Champions in Turkey

Thiaw, in his list of 27 players announced on Thursday, 6 November, has included his usual big guns for the two tests, highlighted by former Liverpool star Sadio Mane, defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly, and goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

The all-foreign-based contingent also includes English Premier League standouts, led by Everton duo of Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye, Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson (on loan at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich), Crystal Palace midfielder Ismaila Sarr, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pape Matar Sarr, and newly-acquired West Ham defender El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The notable changes in Thiaw’s squad from last month’s set of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers include the maiden call-up of Paris Saint-Germain star Ibrahim Mbaye, who this week made the bombshell decision of wearing Senegal’s colours over France, despite having come through all the youth ranks for Les Bleus.

Another new entrant for the Teranga Lions is Chelsea's 20-year-old defender Mamadou Sarr (currently on loan at RC Strasbourg Alsace), who also picked Teranga Lions over 2018 FIFA World Cup champions France.

Young Como winger Assane Diao also makes a return to the squad following an injury, as does Le Havre AC midfielder Rassoul Ndiaye.

The star-studded squad looks to give Kenya its best litmus test yet, even as Benni McCarthy embarks on a mission to prepare his squad for continental assignments next year.

Olunga missing as Aldrine Kibet is included in Harambee Stars latest squad

Kenya, with no AFCON this year, have opted for a mix of youth and experience, and will be without influential skipper Michael Olunga.

Among the youngsters set to feature against the continent’s best include: Aldrine Kibet, Baron Ochieng, Lawrence Okoth, and Job Ochieng.

FULL SENEGAL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Édouard Mendy – Al-Ahli SFC (Saudi Arabia), Mory Diaw – Le Havre AC (France), Yehvann Diouf – OGC Nice (France).

Defenders: Kalidou Koulibaly – Al-Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia), Abdoulaye Seck – Maccabi Haifa (Israel), Antoine Mendy – OGC Nice (France), Moussa Niakhaté – Olympique Lyonnais (France), Ismaïl Jakobs – Galatasaray (Turkey), El Hadji Malick Diouf – West Ham United (England), Mamadou Sarr – RC Strasbourg (on loan from Chelsea), Ilay Camara – RSC Anderlecht (Belgium).

Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye – Everton FC (England), Pape Gueye – Villarreal CF (Spain), Rassoul Ndiaye – Le Havre AC (France), Pape Matar Sarr – Tottenham Hotspur (England), Pathé Ciss – Rayo Vallecano (Spain), Mamadou Lamine Camara – Renaissance de Berkane (Morocco).

Forwards: Sadio Mané – Al-Nassr FC (Saudi Arabia), Boulaye Dia – Lazio (Italy), Ismaïla Sarr – Crystal Palace (England), Iliman Ndiaye – Everton FC (England), Pape Cherif Ndiaye – Samsunspor (Turkey), Nicolas Jackson – Bayern Munich (on loan from Chelsea), Ibrahim Mbaye – Paris Saint-Germain (France), Habib Diallo – FC Metz (France), Cheikh Sabaly – FC Metz (France), Assane Diao – Como 1907 (Italy).