Vieira names first Senegal squad without Mané for Mozambique, Ethiopia and Comoros

Patrick Vieira, appointed as Senegal’s new head coach, unveiled his first squad on Friday in Dakar: 29 players for two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and a friendly.

As L'Équipe reports, the “Lions de la Téranga” begin with away matches during the upcoming international window: first against Mozambique (September 25) and then vs Ethiopia (September 29). The run ends with a friendly against Comoros on October 4.

Vieira’s first call-up

In the list, Sadio Mané is absent due to injury, though Vieira said he expects to be available for the next gathering. With captain Kalidou Koulibaly included, the squad blends experienced leaders and new faces, featuring Idrissa Gueye, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaïla Sarr.

There’s also heavy Ligue 1 representation: nine players currently in France’s top flight received call-ups. Among them are Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Abdallah Sima (Lens), plus Rennes players including Issa Soumaré. The group also features Boulaye Dia.

Qualifiers start now

These fixtures mark the start of Vieira’s tenure with a tough task inside the CAN 2027 qualification race. The key talking point is the Mané injury, but the selection clearly leans on experience and squad depth—especially via Ligue 1—to take on both September challengers.