A look at the country’s demographics, football history and its squad status prior to the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Number of inhabitants: approx. 17 million.
Continent: Africa
Confederation: CAF
National Football Association: FSF
Number of members: unknown (?% of total population)
International trophies won: 1x Africa Cup
Best World Cup result: Quarter-finals in 2002.
Key Players
In the past: Henri Camara, Jules Bocandé, El Hadji Diouf, Papa Bouba Diop.
Key current players: Koulibaly, Mané, Diallo, Sarr.
Coach, formation and possible lineup
Coach: Aliou Cissé. (since 2015)
Typical formation: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1
Possible lineup:
- GK: Alfred Gomis (Rennes) 29
- LB: Ismail Jakobs (Monaco) 23
- RB: Formose Mendy (Amiens) 21
- LCB: Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig) 26
- RCB: Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea) 31
- RW: Ismaïla Sarr (Watford) 24
- LW: Sadio Mané (Bayern) 30
- CM: Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham) 20
- CM: Pape Gueye (Marseille) 23
- CM: Idrissa Gueye (Everton) 33
- ST: Boulaye Dia (Salernitana) 25
Age Report
Players aged 25 or under in the current lineup: 6
Players aged 32 or over in the current lineup: 1
There is 1 player in this lineup that will (most likely) be playing their last World Cup this year: Idrissa Gueye.
There are 6 players in this lineup that can play (at least) two more: Jakobs, Mendy, Sarr, Matar Sarr, Pape Gueye, Dia.
The remaining 4 players could play in one (or two in Diallo’s case) more World Cups: Gomis, Diallo, Koulibaly, Mané.
Youngest player: Pape Matar Sarr, born 14 September 2002 (20)
Oldest player: Idrissa Gueye, born 26 September 1989 (33)
Average squad age: 25.9
World Cup Qatar – Group A
Fixtures:
Monday 21 November Senegal vs Netherlands
Friday 25 November Qatar vs Senegal
Tuesday 29 November Ecuador vs Senegal
Our view:
Senegal is the highest ranked African nation in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, and we expect them to progress past the group stage along with the Netherlands. Unless Qatar and/or Ecuador have some surprises up their sleeves of course. Beyond the group stage, it will all depend on their star player Sadio Mané. If he can make the difference, Senegal could go a long way.
