Sadio Mane, a key figure in Senegal’s triumph at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, is poised to play a crucial role in their defense of the title in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11.
The 31-year-old winger from Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League will lead the charge, supported by six Premier League players, including Chelsea’s striker, Nicolas Jackson.
Among the Premier League representatives in Senegal’s squad are Tottenham’s Teranga Pape Matar Sarr, Everton’s Idrissa Gueye, Fulham’s Fode Ballo-Toure, and Nottingham Forest’s Moussa Niakhate and Cheikhou Kouyate.
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Coach Aliou Cisse has also included Seny Dieng, the goalkeeper for Middlesbrough, and Abdallah Sima, the winger for Glasgow Rangers, in the 27-man squad.
Here’s the complete list of Senegal’s squad for the 2023 AFCON:
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 Niakhate (Nottingham Forest, England), Abdou Diallo (Al Arabi, Qatar), Formose Mendy (Lorient, France), Abdoulaye Ndiaye (Troyes, France), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Fode Ballo-Toure (Fulham, England), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco, France).
Midfielders: Lamine Camara (Metz, France), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, England), Krepin Diatta (Monaco, France), Cheikhou Kouyate (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 Mane (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Habib Diallo (Al Shabab, Saudi Arabia), Iliman Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr (both Marseille, France).
It’s worth noting that Senegal is placed in Group C for the 2023 AFCON alongside Cameroon, Gambia, and Guinea.
Additionally, all 24 participating countries are expected to unveil their final squads for the tournament on or before January 3, 2024.