AFCON champions are ready: Mane leads Senegal’s loaded World Cup charge
Only a few squads heading to the World Cup look as physically dominant, experienced and dangerous as the Lions of Teranga.Drawn into a brutal group alongside France, Norway and Iraq, Senegal know there will be no margin for error. Still, the belief inside the camp is clear: they have enough quality to challenge anyone.Head coach Pape Thiaw has named a provisional 28-man squad ahead of the tournament, with two players still set to be cut before the final list is confirmed.📋 La Liste des 28 Lions retenus par le sélectionneur national Pape Thiaw pour représenter le Sénégal à la Coupe du Monde 2026. #FIFAWC2026 #ListeGaideyi #DemBaJeex pic.twitter.com/lA7qkL9UfV— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) May 21, 2026 As expected, everything still revolves around Sadio Mane. The captain remains the emotional and footballing leader of the squad, but what makes this Senegal side especially dangerous is the depth around him. Remarkably, 20 of the 28 selected players currently compete in Europe’s top five ..